Nigerian chef Hilda Baci has challenged the current Guinness World Record for the ‘longest cooking marathon by an individual’ by cooking for 100 hours plus.
The current record held by India’s Lata Tondon is 87 hours and 45 minutes. But Hilda, who only attempted to break the record with 90 hours even outdid herself. She has done 100 hours and 40 minutes of cooking, leaving a wide gap between her and the current record holder Lata.
Hilda, who has received massive support from Nigeria and throughout the world, started the record last week Thursday and ended Tuesday, May 15, 2023. Thousands of Nigerians stormed the venue in Lagos to witness history being made.
“I am so nervous,” she said before the event, “but I can’t wait for you all to experience this from the set to the food to the activities. This dream is taking a bit of my life force but I am grateful to even be in a position to dare to dream this big please don’t forget to say a prayer for me.”
She has attracted love from public figures and celebrities around the world. Canadian rapper Drake called to throw his weight behind him. Nigeria’s President-elect of Nigeria, Bola Ahmed Tinubu described her as ‘Idan‘ (a popular Nigerian slang to wit something ‘magical or charming‘). Governor of Lagos State, Sanwo-Olu was present at the venue to support her, and of course, tasted her food.
President Muhammadu Buhari showed his ‘immense joy’ for Hilda via Twitter. “Hilda’s drive, ambition and resilience have brought great interest and insight into the uniqueness of Nigerian food. She is now a cultural icon, and I believe that this feat will inspire many more young people, in Nigeria and beyond, to follow in her footsteps,” he tweeted.
Despite her record-breaking cooking marathon witnessed by millions of people around the world, the Guinness World Records team is yet to certify her. The organization responded to calls to certify her through Twitter, saying: “We’re aware of this amazing record attempt, we need to review all the evidence first before officially confirming a record.”
Hilda Baci ended her record by thanking everyone who supported her
