Guinness World Record holder, Hilda Bassey, popularly known as Hilda Baci, has announced that the giant pot used during her latest record-breaking feat will not be auctioned or sold.
Speaking at a press conference on Saturday at Gino Nigeria’s office in Lagos, the celebrity chef described the custom-made cookware as a national and global symbol.
“Oh, you may not have heard of it. Trust me, so many people have asked about that pot. Some people want to buy it, they said we should auction it,” she told reporters.
Hilda, who in September set the Guinness World Record for the largest serving of Nigerian-style jollof rice, said the pot represents more than its practical use.
“That pot is a symbol of history, a symbol of faith, a symbol of innovation. The process of putting it together alone makes it very special,” she noted.
She explained that she and her team want the pot preserved as an inspiration for future generations.
“This is something that we want people, even 10 or 20 years from now, to be able to see and point to. We’re definitely not going to auction it,” she stressed.
Hilda revealed that the pot will be restored to its original form and displayed for public viewing. “We’re going to make sure as many people as possible get to see it—maybe in a museum or somewhere accessible,” she said.
The pot, with a capacity of 22,619 litres, was specially designed for the record attempt. It held 200 bags of rice during the cooking, producing 8,780 kilogrammes (19,356 lb 9 oz) of jollof rice—an achievement Guinness confirmed on September 19, 2025.
The event, hosted in partnership with Gino at Victoria Island, Lagos, drew a carnival-like crowd of food lovers, celebrities, and dignitaries. Among those present were Nollywood actress Funke Akindele, Ogun State First Lady Bamidele Abiodun, dancer Kaffy, fashion designer Veekee James, and entertainers such as Tacha, Papaya, Enioluwa, Alex Unusual, and Spyro.
Hilda, who first gained international attention with her 2023 cook-a-thon where she cooked non-stop for over 100 hours, has once again placed Nigerian cuisine on the global stage with her jollof rice feat.
