Hilda Effiong Bassey, also known as Hilda Baci, has made history by breaking the Guinness World Record for the longest cooking marathon (individual).
After thoroughly reviewing all the evidence, Guinness World Records has officially confirmed Hilda Baci’s achievement, with an impressive time of 93 hours and 11 minutes.
This 26-year-old Nigerian chef embarked on her record-breaking journey on Thursday, May 11, and continued tirelessly until Monday, May 15. Throughout the four-day kitchen stint, Hilda cooked over 100 pots of food, showcasing her remarkable culinary skills.
Hilda faced a minor setback in her aim for a 100-hour record when her final total had almost seven hours deducted. This deduction occurred due to mistakenly taking extra minutes for one of her rest breaks early on in the attempt.
The rules for “longest marathon” records permit participants to take a five-minute rest break for every continuous hour of activity, allowing Hilda the only opportunities to use the bathroom or sleep during her intense culinary marathon. If not taken, participants can accumulate these breaks.
Lata Tondon from India set the previous record of 87 hours and 45 minutes in 2019. Hilda, driven by her passion for Nigerian cuisine and her desire to inspire young African women, aimed to put Nigerian cuisine on the global map and encourage others to pursue their dreams.
To prepare for the event, Hilda created an extensive 35-item menu as a guide for every meal she would cook. Her dedicated team ensured all the necessary ingredients were available, procuring additional food items during the cook-a-thon based on the ongoing requirements.
Hilda’s record-breaking attempt gained widespread attention on social media, with millions of followers in Nigeria and beyond tracking her progress through an Instagram live stream. The overwhelming support from her loyal fan base caused the official Guinness World Records website to crash for two days due to the massive volume of traffic it received.
Numerous influential Nigerian figures visited Hilda during her record attempt, including Professor Yemi Osinbajo, the Vice President of Nigeria; Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, the Governor of Lagos State; and award-winning singer Tiwa Savage.
During the cook-a-thon, Hilda followed specific rules, which required her to have at least two items prepared or cooked simultaneously. While a sous-chef could assist with prep work, washing up, and cleaning the kitchen area, Hilda took sole responsibility for all the cooking. Furthermore, Hilda had to ensure the consumption of all the cooked items, as it was a vital rule. she invited members of the Nigerian public to savour her freshly made meals. Hilda graciously donated any leftover food to the Festus Fajemilo Foundation.
Hilda’s goal for this remarkable event was to make it accessible to all and provide meals for the less privileged. Each pot of food she cooked was large enough to serve 30-35 people, and careful stock control was implemented to minimize wastage.
Hilda’s journey into the culinary world began after she graduated from Madonna University, Nigeria, with a degree in sociology. Inspired by her mother, Lynda Ndukwe, a chef, Hilda has achieved numerous accolades, including hosting the television show Dine on a Budget in 2020 and emerging as the champion of the Jollof Face-off competition in 2021. In this competition, representing Nigeria, Hilda outshined Leslie Kumordzie from Ghana to claim victory.
In 2023, Hilda Baci is now an official Guinness World Records title holder. Congratulations to Hilda for her extraordinary accomplishment!
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Big congratulations to Hilda!