The mother of renowned Nigerian celebrity chef, Hilda Baci, Mrs. Bassey, has shared an emotional account of the dedication, prayer, fasting, and divine intervention that helped her daughter achieve her latest Guinness World Record.
Speaking virtually during Pastor Jerry Eze’s NSPPD online morning service on Tuesday, Mrs. Bassey, who runs Calabar Pot restaurant in Abuja, recounted the moment Hilda Baci told her she intended to cook a massive six-metre-wide pot of jollof rice using 250 bags of basmati rice. She admitted that hearing the plan made her nervous and anxious, given the scale of the undertaking.
“When she said 250 bags, I was shaking. When she sent me the video of the pot, I asked, what kind of rice is this one? That pot was like my office. I was afraid,” she said, describing the overwhelming size and weight of the pot.
Prayers and fasting for success
Mrs. Bassey revealed that both she and her daughter went into fasting and intense prayer to ensure the safety and success of the event. “She told me, Mommy, we have to fast all through this week. I joined NSPPD every morning, prayed through the night, and put the picture of the event before God,” she testified. She emphasized that the spiritual preparation was essential, considering the complexity and potential dangers of handling such a massive pot.
The mother admitted she was concerned about the pot collapsing under the enormous weight of rice, meat, oil, and other ingredients. “Even the cover of that pot, people could not carry it. They had to bring in cranes to lift it. I prayed, Father, this pot I hand over to you. It was made by man, but you are God. May it not leak,” she said, highlighting her reliance on divine protection during the cooking process.
Ultimately, the gigantic pot consumed 200 bags of rice, 20 goats, 30 gallons of oil, and large quantities of tomato paste and seasoning, illustrating the sheer scale of the undertaking.
A record sealed in praise
Mrs. Bassey also described her daughter’s leadership and faith during the final stages of cooking. “About 40 minutes to go, she came to me and said, ‘Mommy, we need to pray in the Holy Ghost.’ She told the team, ‘This is the first time you people will eat rice that the Holy Ghost will cook.’ That is the kind of faith she has,” she said, underscoring Hilda Baci’s unwavering belief in God’s guidance.
On Monday, Guinness World Records officially confirmed the achievement, declaring it the largest serving of Nigerian-style jollof rice – weighing 8,780 kg (19,356 lb 9 oz), achieved in Lagos by Hilda Baci in collaboration with chef Gino.
Overflowing with gratitude, Mrs. Bassey expressed amazement at the large crowd and the successful outcome, crediting divine intervention. “Guinness has called us. My daughter has broken the record two times. Who is Hilda? Who is Hilda’s father? Who is Hilda’s mother? For us to pull such a crowd, it can only be God,” she said, acknowledging the spiritual and communal effort behind the record-breaking event.
She also praised God for preventing accidents, injuries, or other mishaps during the event. “When I saw the crowd, I just said, what God cannot do does not exist. Father, no one will collapse here, no death, no accident, no evil report. And that was how it ended, everything in praise,” she said, emphasizing the safety and orderly execution of the feat.
Double world record holder
Hilda Baci, who initially rose to fame with her cook-a-thon in 2023, now holds two Guinness World Records, cementing her status as one of Nigeria’s most celebrated culinary figures. She took to social media to celebrate the milestone, writing, “We have done it again #nigeria #hildabaci,” reflecting her pride and joy in the achievement.
The remarkable feat not only showcases Hilda Baci’s culinary skill and leadership but also highlights the importance of faith, preparation, and community support in achieving world-class accomplishments.