Nigeria’s Hilda “Baci” Bassey has broken the Guinness World Record for the “longest cooking marathon by an individual”, setting aside the record held by Indian chef Lata Tandon.
Bassey smashed the 87 hours 45 minutes record on Monday morning and is now hours away from setting a new global record.
The 27-year-old chef is on a “cook-a-thon” to break the Guinness World Record for longest cooking time by an individual under stringent rules.
The winner of the maiden edition of the ‘Jollof Faceoff’ competition held in August 2021, the Akwa Ibom native is gunning to cook nonstop for 96 hours, which is four days.
She started on Thursday at 4 pm, and the competition has since drawn the attention of millions of Nigerians, amongst them politicians and entertainers, who have declared support for Bassey.
Thousands have thronged the Amore Garden, Lagos, venue in solidarity. Vice President Yemi Osibanjo declared support and Gov Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos visited the venue.
But what exactly does Bassey stand to get as benefit for setting a new Guinness World Record?
“The cook-a-thon is also an opportunity to tell some of the positive stories that come from Africa through the meals that we make,” Bassey said, according to Channels.
“This attempt is also proof of the strength young people can exhibit with the right platform and support. I look forward to receiving support from people across the world to achieve this feat.”
Emotional moment chef Hilda Baci breaks Guinness World Records for the longest cooking time, 87 hours 45 minutes.
Record Broken MC Oluomo Chef Sunny Akpabio First Lady pic.twitter.com/EC9Pw2pJRj
— Abiola Trends (@Abiola_Trends) May 15, 2023
– Will the Guinness World Record pay Bassey?
Officially, there is no monetary reward for people who break world records, at least not from the Guinness World Record.
“Our role is to celebrate the world’s best, to inspire ordinary people and to entertain and inform,” said the Guinness World Record which describes itself as the global authority on all things record-breaking, with offices in UK, US, China, Japan, and UAE, as well as our official adjudicators who verify records all over the world.
Record breakers are issued an official Guinness World Record certificate after evidence confirms that they successfully broke the record – a process that can last up to 12 weeks.
However, world record holders have relied on the official recognition and buzz surrounding their new found fame to reach laudable heights.
Current record holder Lata Tandon from India has gone ahead to become a renowned, acclaimed and widely noticeable world-trotter.
Tandon travels in her Thar, a locally manufactured SUV suited mostly for adventure and travel to showcase and promote local and international cuisines.
“I wanted to blog from my kitchen and go on expeditions. This led me to purchase Thar, an amazing wild car. It can go through any obstacle and rough terrain,” she told The Restaurant Times.
Record holders like Bassey are also exposed to sponsorship, deals and endorsements which also come with monetary rewards and value.
Such exposures enhance their career and open doors for greater ventures and accomplishments. There is also the possibility of donations from individuals and organizations in appreciation of Bassey’s feat.
#Pluboard celebrates Hilda Bassey and wishes her the best!
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