In brief
Hilda Baci, a 30-year-old Nigerian chef, has gained fame for her cooking feats, breaking records with her 93-hour cook-a-thon and preparing over 8.7 tonnes of jollof rice. With a thriving restaurant and a growing brand, she inspires many while balancing personal ambitions and societal expectations.
Nigerian celebrity chef and double Guinness World Record breaker Hilda Baci makes no secret about what drives her success. [It's] my love for money and the good things in life, the 30-year-old says with a laugh. There are two sides to Hilda Baci: the personal side, known by family and friends, and the brand she has created that captivates followers worldwide.Operating under the name 'My Food by Hilda,' she manages a successful restaurant in Lagos and offers cookery classes and private chef services, amassing over a million followers on her Instagram.Baci rose to fame after breaking the world record for the longest cooking marathon in 2023, achieving a whopping 93 hours and 11 minutes, which sparked a nationwide craze for culinary endurance challenges. Recently, she shattered another record by cooking more than 8.7 tonnes of the beloved jollof rice in one pot.Drawing from her childhood experiences, from helping at her mother's eatery to establishing a food delivery business, Baci has focused her efforts on building her brand while staying true to her heritage. She reiterates her ambition to make Nigerian cuisine, particularly her signature coconut rice, a global sensation.Despite her success, Baci often addresses societal pressures regarding marriage. She emphasizes her desire to build a legacy and aims to open outlets globally, with the vision that one day Nigerian cuisine reaches the heights of popularity enjoyed by other world cuisines.
