Guinness World Record holder and celebrity chef, Hilda Bassey, popularly known as Hilda Baci, has dismissed speculations that the giant pot used in her historic jollof rice feat would be sold or auctioned.
Addressing journalists on Saturday at the Gino Nigeria office in Lagos, Hilda said the pot had grown beyond its original purpose, describing it as a national and global treasure.
“Oh, you may not have heard of it. Trust me, so many people have asked about that pot. Some people want to buy it, they said we should auction it,” she told reporters.
The chef explained that the custom-made cookware now represents “history, faith, and innovation,” noting the extensive effort invested in designing and assembling it.
“That pot is a symbol of a lot of beautiful things. It’s a symbol of history. It’s a symbol of faith. It’s a symbol of innovation,” she said.
Hilda stressed that the pot would remain a lasting source of inspiration, insisting it would be preserved for generations.
“I think we agree that this is something we want 10 years from now, 20 years from now, for people to still be able to see and point to. Right now, I can tell you we’re definitely not going to auction it,” she added.
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She further revealed plans to restore the cookware to its original form and make it accessible to the public.
“We’re not going to sell it. We’re going to make sure that as many people as possible get to see it in its glory. We’re going to put it back in the form that it originally was, and you’ll probably find it maybe on your way to work or in a museum somewhere,” she explained.
The Guinness World Records confirmed on Friday that Hilda Baci and Gino had set a new record for the largest serving of Nigerian-style jollof rice. The dish weighed 8,780 kilogrammes (19,356 lb 9 oz) and was cooked in a specially designed pot with a capacity of 22,619 litres.
The event, held at Victoria Island, Lagos, attracted a large crowd, including celebrities and public figures such as Nollywood actress Funke Akindele, Ogun State First Lady Bamidele Abiodun, dancer Kaffy, fashion designer Veekee James, and singer Spyro.
Before the attempt, Hilda disclosed that her target was to fill the pot up to 80 per cent using 250 bags of rice. Eventually, 200 bags were used, as the crane and weighing scale could only accommodate up to 20,000 kilogrammes, including the pot’s own weight.
