Following her effort to break the world record by cooking constantly for 100 hours, Nigerian chef Hilda Effiong Bassey has become a national phenomenon. On social media, the chef goes by the handle Hilda Baci.
She began cooking on Thursday and worked nonstop until Monday, producing over 100 dishes and more than 55 different recipes to highlight the finest of Nigerian food. To determine whether Bassey will hold the record, the Guinness World Records committee must first certify that all of its requirements have been completed. The record to surpass, which was set in 2019, was 87 hours and 45 minutes, and it was set by Indian chef Lata Tondon, who posted a word of encouragement to Bassey during her endeavor.
Bassey told CNN that she was inspired to try for the record because she wanted to popularise Nigerian cuisine. She declared that Nigerian food was the best available. “As a cuisine is spread more broadly, more people will be inclined to try it. The food from Nigeria is so comforting, she continued. Even though she hadn’t slept much during her cooking binge in Lagos, Bassy was in good spirits and could be seen dancing and waving to the crowds of people who had come to support her. One man, Uduak Obong, told CNN that he traveled hundreds of km by bus during the night to get to the event’s destination in Lagos. “To support my sister and my friend, I traveled for 12 hours to get here. She truly is fantastic, he said.
A television personality named Enioluwa Adeoluwa, who served as the cookathon’s MC, told CNN: “When a Nigerian is doing something, we all come out to express support. We are very thrilled. She is performing so wonderfully. Damilola Ogunsi, an actor and Nollywood celebrity, stated, “She’s opening the door to the African food market and demonstrating to all the young people here that anything is possible if you have the desire to work for it.”
Nigerian top military commander, 10 others killed in air crash
Local authorities and artist Tiwa Savage paid a visit to Bassey during the cookery competition. Bassey claims that after smashing the previous record and nearly quitting on the first day, she decided to try for 100 hours. It was most challenging on the first day. After six hours, I was prepared to quit. I have a strange sense that I arrived here by a miracle. It’s been amazing, she said of the support.
