Hilda Effiong Bassey, also known as Hilda Baci, officially sets new record with 93 hours 11 minutes of continuous cooking.
Nigerian chef, Hilda Baci, captures the title for the longest cooking marathon (individual) after a rigorous examination of evidence by Guinness World Records.
Hilda, aged 26, commenced her impressive feat on Thursday 11 May and concluded on Monday 15 May, successfully preparing over 100 pots of food during the four-day culinary challenge.
Although Hilda aimed for a record-breaking time of 100 hours, Guinness World Records made a deduction of nearly seven hours due to a miscalculation during one of her early rest breaks.
During the attempt, participants are allowed a five-minute break for every hour of continuous activity. These breaks can be accumulated if unused and serve as the only opportunity for bathroom breaks or sleep.
Previously, the record stood at 87 hours 45 minutes, achieved by Lata Tondon (India) in 2019.
Hilda Baci’s Motivation
Hilda’s motivation for this record-breaking endeavor was to promote Nigerian cuisine and inspire young African women to pursue their dreams. She also sought to push her personal limits and test her abilities.
To prepare for the event, Hilda created a comprehensive 35-item menu as a guideline for each meal she cooked. Her team ensured the availability of necessary ingredients and procured additional items during the cook-a-thon as required.
Hilda’s cooking marathon garnered widespread attention on social media, with millions of followers from Nigeria and around the world tracking her progress through an Instagram live stream. According to the record organizers, overwhelming support caused their website to crash for two days due to the massive influx of traffic from her devoted fans.
Throughout her record attempt, Hilda Baci received visits from prominent Nigerian figures including Vice President Professor Yemi Osinbajo, Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State, and award-winning singer Tiwa Savage.
Several rules governed Hilda’s record-breaking cook-a-thon:
- At least two items must be prepared or cooked simultaneously.
- A sous-chef could assist with prep work, dishwashing, and kitchen cleaning, but the individual attempting the record must handle all cooking.
- An essential requirement for food-related records is the consumption of all cooked items. Hilda invited the Nigerian public to enjoy her freshly made meals, and any leftovers were donated to the Festus Fajemilo Foundation.
Hilda Baci expressed her team’s goal for the event: to make it accessible to everyone and provide meals to the underprivileged.
According to Hilda, each pot of food she cooked could serve 30-35 people, and proper stock control measures were implemented to minimize food waste.
Hilda Baci’s Journey
Hilda’s passion for cooking flourished after graduating from Madonna University, Nigeria, with a sociology degree. Inspired by her mother, Lynda Ndukwe, who is also a chef, Hilda’s culinary journey led to her hosting the television show Dine on a Budget in 2020. She further triumphed by winning the Jollof Face-off competition in 2021, representing Nigeria and defeating Ghana’s Leslie Kumordzie to claim victory.
