Organisers of the World Jollof Festival have announced a change of venue for chef Hilda Baci’s highly anticipated attempt to cook the world’s largest pot of jollof rice.
The event, earlier scheduled to hold at Muri Okunola Park, Victoria Island, will now take place at Eko Hotel Car Park B, Lagos. According to the organisers, the move became necessary to accommodate the overwhelming number of people who have registered to attend.
In a statement, Oreoluwa Atinmo, Marketing Director of GBfoods Nigeria, said safety and comfort were top priorities.
“To accommodate this event safely and comfortably, we have moved the venue to Eko Hotel Car Park B. This record attempt is a celebration of jollof and it deserves a space that allows more people to share in the experience, enjoy the culture, and witness history,” Atinmo explained.
Baci welcomed the decision, describing it as a reflection of the massive support the project has attracted.
“The love and support have been mind-blowing. Thousands have already registered to be part of this celebration, so moving to Eko Hotel Car Park B is important to ensure everyone can safely share in the experience,” she said.
The festival, sponsored by Gino, will not only feature the Guinness World Record attempt but also host food exhibitions, cultural showcases, live performances, and interactive experiences celebrating jollof rice as a symbol of identity and community.
For the record-breaking feat, Baci disclosed plans to cook 250 bags of rice using a specially designed pot with a capacity of 22,619 litres. The pot, measuring six metres wide and over a metre deep, will be filled to 80 per cent and seasoned with spices such as garlic, ginger, thyme, rosemary, and curry.
The chef noted that the project is the culmination of two years of planning.
Baci first came into global spotlight in June 2023 when Guinness World Records confirmed her as the holder of the longest individual cooking marathon, after surpassing the previous record of 87 hours and 45 minutes. Though her over 100-hour effort was later adjusted due to technical errors and eventually overtaken by Irish chef Alan Fisher’s 119 hours and 57 minutes, Baci’s new challenge will focus on a different Guinness category: the world’s largest pot of jollof rice.
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