The long-running culinary rivalry between Nigeria and Ghana over who makes the best Jollof rice has taken a fiery new turn, as Nigerian chef Hilda Baci has broken another world record — this time with the largest serving of Nigerian-style Jollof rice.
Partnering with Gino Nigeria, Hilda cooked up a staggering 8,780 kilograms (19,356 pounds) of Jollof rice last Friday in Victoria Island, Lagos, drawing thousands of spectators and reigniting debates across West Africa.
The Nigerian star’s record-breaking dish included:
4,000 kg of basmati rice
164 kg of goat meat
220 kg of Gino Asun & peppered chicken cubes
600 kg of her own Jollof pepper mix
It took nine hours of nonstop cooking, 1,200 kg of gas, and teamwork to serve more than 16,600 plates of rice — all distributed under strict no-waste rules.
The event was more than a record attempt; it was a celebration of Nigerian food culture. At the peak of the excitement, the crowd broke into chants of “Hilda, we want Jollof!” while performers entertained those waiting for their share.
But beyond the record, the achievement once again ignites the “Jollof Wars” — a decades-long, good-natured rivalry between Nigeria and Ghana over whose version of the dish reigns supreme. Ghana’s sweeter, tomato-forward Jollof often clashes with Nigeria’s smoky, party-style version, with each side passionately defending its recipe.
Speaking after the feat, Hilda admitted the process was grueling but deeply rewarding. “It’s a lot of hard work but really satisfying to achieve this record. This achievement also belongs to the people of Nigeria as they all contributed to it.”
As debates flood social media once more, one thing is certain: the Jollof Wars are far from over. For now, however, Nigeria has claimed the latest victory on the global stage.
Now the question is: will Ghana rise to the challenge — or has Hilda Baci set the Jollof bar too high to beat?
