Nollywood actress Jumoke Odetola has spoken out against those criticising Nigerian chef Hilda Baci after her recent cooking feat at Eko Hotel, Lagos, where she prepared the biggest pot of Jollof Rice. The event drew support from personalities including Funke Akindele, Enioluwa, Tomike, Pastor Idowu, and Ogun State First Lady, Bamidele Abiodun.
While many celebrated the achievement, some dismissed the effort by claiming the food was not tasty. In an Instagram post, Jumoke described the backlash as disheartening, saying it is painful when negativity overshadows excellence. She noted that her timeline had been flooded with such comments, questioning what has changed in people’s mindset.
She stressed that attempting extraordinary feats requires immense courage and preparation—mentally, psychologically, emotionally, and financially. Calling out critics, she urged them to reflect on why a woman’s success would trigger resentment, advising them to confront their bitterness and seek healing. She prayed that God grant peace and happiness to those struggling with past pains that have turned into negativity.
Funke Akindele, who attended the event, also urged Nigerians to keep celebrating talent and pushing for greatness, adding that she was proud to support a community that uplifts young creatives. In June 2023, Hilda Baci set a Guinness World Record with a marathon cooking time of 100 hours, later adjusted to 93 hours 11 minutes due to rest break issues. The record surpassed the previous 87 hours 45 minutes set by India’s Lata Tondon in 2019.
However, in November of the same year, Irish chef Alan Fisher set a new record of 119 hours 57 minutes in Japan. Despite losing the official title, Hilda updated her bio to reflect that she remains a record holder in spirit, while congratulating Fisher for his achievement.
Source: https://www.kemifilani.ng/
