Nigerian chef Hilda Baci’s latest Guinness World Record attempt took an unexpected turn in Lagos when the massive custom-made pot she was cooking in broke while being lifted for weighing.
The bid was for the world’s largest pot of jollof rice, using an extraordinary amount of ingredients: 4,000kg of rice, 500 cartons of tomato paste, 600kg of onions, and 168kg of goat meat—all cooked in a 23,000-litre vessel built over two months by a team of 300 people.
Thousands gathered to witness the spectacle. The rice itself was fully cooked and later shared with the crowd, though it remains unclear whether Guinness officials were able to verify the attempt because of the pot’s collapse.
“It would make sense if we had the biggest pot of jollof rice—it would be nice for the country,” Baci said.
Baci, who previously earned global recognition by setting the record for the longest cooking marathon, was supported this time by 10 assistant chefs. Despite the setback, she received words of encouragement from Guinness World Records, which acknowledged the effort.
