Nairobi News

Nigerian chef and entrepreneur Hilda Effiong Bassey, popularly known as Hilda Baci, is on the verge of setting a new Guinness World Record for a single person’s longest uninterrupted cooking time.

The current record of 87 hours and 45 minutes is held by an Indian woman, Lata Tondon, and was set in 2019.

The Nigerian chef hopes to break the world record for the longest cooking marathon by a single person.

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On Monday morning, the chef reached the 85-hour mark, leaving less than three hours to set a new world record.

When asked why she took on the challenge, the chef said it was an opportunity to tell some positive stories from Africa through the type of food being prepared.

“The journey to the cook-a-thon started five years ago. It is one of my biggest ambitions and I am glad that I took the bold step to embark on this adventure. I have taken the time to prepare myself psychologically and I am proud to finally take on this challenge,” said Chef Baci.

The chef reached the three-day mark on Sunday, attracting worldwide attention as her cooking was streamed on YouTube and other social media platforms.

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She took social media by storm, attracting supporters worldwide who encouraged her to keep cooking even when she appeared weak and ready to throw in the towel.

Supporters who turned up at Amore Gardens, Lekki, Lagos to cheer her on were seen camping on the grounds, braving the cold and rainy weather.

Some of the big names, including Nigerian singer Tiwa Savage and young dancers from Uganda, Triplets Ghetto Kids, entertained the fans as they cheered on the chef.

She was also encouraged by Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s presidential candidate in Nigeria’s recent election, who described her actions as hard work and resilience.

He wrote: “Hilda’s efforts to break the current Guinness World Record for cooking non-stop for 4 days show the true Nigerian spirit of hard work and resilience.”

Adding, “I applaud her determination and focus, which inspires many Nigerian youths to achieve their dreams through hard work and dedication. I wish her well on this noble journey to write her name in the golden book of history.”

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