Hilda Baci, a Nigerian chef, broke the Guinness World Record for the longest nonstop cooking by cooking for 100 hours straight. She surpassed the previous record set in 2019 by an Indian chef, cooking since Thursday of the previous week to beat the record.
Baci cooked for the 100th hour at around 19:45 GMT on Monday in the Lekki area of Lagos, Nigeria’s commercial hub, and became a national sensation.
The Guinness World Records confirmed awareness of Baci’s attempt but will review all evidence before officially confirming a record.
“We need to review all the evidence first before officially confirming a record,” the global brand said.
Baci aimed to show the hardworking and determined nature of Nigerian youths while campaigning for young African women who are sidelined in society. She also hoped the world would learn more about Nigerian cuisines.
Starting at 15:00 GMT on Thursday, Baci cooked dozens of Nigerian delicacies, including soups, stew, various proteins, and the iconic West African dish, Jollof rice. She had only five-minute breaks every hour or an accumulated one hour after 12 hours for everything else, from bathing to medical checkups and resting.
Thousands of locals and celebrities cheered her on at the scene through day and night, and many more monitored her online via several streaming platforms.
President Muhammadu Buhari tweeted his appreciation of Baci’s accomplishment, saying that her drive, ambition, and resilience have brought great interest and insight into the uniqueness of Nigerian food. As Baci neared the 100-hour mark, Kingsley Ofoma at the scene expressed confidence in her surpassing the global record, noting the high and positive energy at the event.