Hilda Baci’s mother, Mrs. Bassey, has shared her experience during her daughter’s Guinness World Record attempt for the largest serving of Nigerian-style jollof rice, admitting that she was initially afraid when she saw the size of the pot chosen for the feat.
Speaking during the NSPPD online service on Tuesday, Mrs. Bassey, who owns the Calabar Pot restaurant in Abuja, revealed that Hilda had proposed cooking with 250 bags of basmati rice in a single giant pot. According to her, the sheer size of the pot, which measured several metres in diameter, left her worried about safety and feasibility.
“The pot was like my office. I was afraid. I thought to myself, what kind of rice is this one?” she said.
Mrs. Bassey explained that her fear was not unfounded, noting that the pot was so large that the lid required cranes to lift. She said she prayed and fasted throughout the preparation period, asking God to ensure that nothing went wrong during the event.
Despite her concerns, the record attempt went ahead successfully, with Hilda eventually cooking with 200 bags of rice, 20 goats, 30 gallons of oil, tomato paste, and other ingredients.
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The cooking drew massive attention and was later confirmed by Guinness World Records as the largest serving of Nigerian-style jollof rice, weighing 8,780 kg.
Reflecting on the outcome, Mrs. Bassey said she was grateful that the fears she had before the event did not materialise, describing the successful record as an answer to prayer.
