While many see it as an abuse by Nigerians, several others are rather happy and consider it a thing of pride that their friends, family members, church members, or generally, their loved ones are daring to break not just any record but a globally recognized Guinness World Record with cook-a-thon attempts for the longest cooking marathon by an individual becoming the most popular in the country in recent time.
In Nigeria, alongside the likes of Bose Omolayo, Paul Kehinde, Stephen Keshi, Haruna Abdulazeez, and Hilda Baci, among others, who have either held or currently hold various Guinness World Records, several other Nigerians have also made some unsuccessful attempts.
Bose Omolayo holds the GWR title for the heaviest para powerlift by a female in the -79 kg category after lifting 144 kg (317 lb 7 oz) at the World Para Powerlifting Championships in Tbilisi, Georgia, in December 2021. Paul Kehinde is a two-time record holder for the heaviest parapowerlift by a male. In February 2018, he broke his own 2017 record by lifting 221 kg (487 lb 3.5 oz) at the 9th Fazza 2018 World Para Powerlifting World Cup in Dubai, UAE. While Stephen Keshi held the GWR title for the youngest person to win the Africa Cup of Nations both as a player and coach at the age of 52 years and 10 days when he led the Super Eagles to victory as head coach in 2013 and having previously won the tournament as a player in 1994, Haruna Abdulazeez clinched the record for the most American football touches with the feet in one minute by a male. He attained this by achieving 75 touches within a minute in October 2020.
There was undoubtedly a sudden surge in the number of attempts at setting newer records in the Guinness World Book of Records from Nigeria within the last year. One might attribute the sudden interest amongst Nigerians to a singular attempt by a popular Nigerian chef, Hilda Effiong Bassey, popularly known as Hilda Baci, who, in May 2023, embarked on a cook-a-thon for the longest cooking marathon by an individual. Hilda eventually surpassed her predecessor, an Indian, Lata Tondon’s 87-hour, 45-minute cooking record, setting a new record of 93-hour, 11-minute cooking marathon by an individual. This was the first GWR-breaking attempt for the longest cooking marathon in Nigeria in the year 2023. It was so popular that it reportedly crashed the GWR’s website due to her legion of supporters and loyal fanbase.
But just as Hilda Bacci was done cooking and was still receiving accolades for her tenacity, even though her attempt was yet to be confirmed by the Guinness World Record, another was suddenly reported to have begun in Ekiti State, in the southwestern region of the country.
Originally named Damilola Adeparusi, Chef Dami was attempting to set a new 120-hour cooking record in what she described as a bid to showcase her culinary skills and patience. Several Nigerians criticized her for wanting to take away Hilda Baci’s glory too soon. Her cook-a-thon attempt was also unsuccessful, as it was later gathered that she failed to officially apply to GWR before embarking on her record-breaking attempt.
Sequel to Chef Dammy’s unsuccessful attempt, several notices were seen on the cyberspace of people who intended to attempt breaking Hilda Baci’s record, but none actually came to light until February 28, 2024, when another Nigerian chef, Victor, owner of Naira Victor restaurant in Delta State, commenced a fresh 135-hour cook-a-thon in Makurdi, the Benue State capital, in an attempt to set a new GWR for the longest cooking marathon by an individual.
Chef Victor eventually surpassed Irish chef Alan Fisher’s 119-hour and 57-minute record-breaking attempt, which unseated Chef Hilda Baci in November 2023. Chef Victor’s attempt was yet to be confirmed as of the time of filing this report.
