On Monday, May 15, 2023, Nigerian Chef Hilda Baci, scored an incredible feat by breaking the record for the longest individual cooking time in the world, after cooking for 100 hours in 4 days.
Hilda earlier surpassed the previous record set by Lata Tondon, an Indian chef, in 2019.
Lata Tondon cooked for 87 hours, 45 minutes, and 00 seconds to break the previous title.
However, despite her remarkable accomplishment, the validation of her achievement by the Guinness World Records is still pending.
Why has Hilda’s feat not been affirmed by the prestigious organisation?
“We’re aware of this amazing record attempt, we need to review all the evidence first before officially confirming a record,” the Guinness World Records said in a statement on Hilda’s achievement.
A Guinness World Records spokesperson said: “We are aware of the record attempt and are looking forward to receiving the evidence for our Records Management Team to review, before we can confirm the record is official.”
The Guinness World Records as an institution, receives an overwhelming number of record applications each year. With over 50,000 applications pouring in annually, it amounts to nearly 1,000 applications per week.
Naturally, the process of evaluating and validating these records is a time-consuming task that requires attention to detail.
Due to the substantial volume of applications, the Guinness World Records has a waiting time of up to 12 weeks for assessing applications and providing guidelines for record attempts.
Once the evidence for a record attempt is submitted, an additional 12 weeks may be necessary for the organisation to review the documentation and determine the success of the attempt.
Professional dancer, Kaffi and her group, who shattered the record for the longest duration of group dancing by engaging in a continuous dance marathon for over 55 hours and 40 minutes, stated that the process of Guinness verification takes about a week, after which a certificate is awarded.
For individuals seeking a faster response, the Guinness World Records offers a Priority Application service. By opting for this service, the processing time for record applications can be reduced to just five working days.
However, it is important to note that this service comes with a fee. In the UK, the cost is £500 for applications for existing record titles and £650 for applications for new record titles. In the US, the corresponding fees are $800 and $1,000, respectively.
Despite utilizing the Priority Application service, there is no guarantee that an application will be successful. The payment made for the service is non-refundable in the event of an unsuccessful attempt.
It is essential for applicants to carefully review the evidence guidelines provided by the Guinness World Records to ensure they meet the necessary criteria for their record attempt.
Additionally, it is worth mentioning that the usual wait times for record assessments may be extended when there is an exceptionally high volume of applications.
Therefore, during periods of elevated application submissions, the processing time may be longer than the standard 12-week period.
In the case of Hilda Baci’s record-breaking cooking feat, it is possible that the confirmation from the Guinness World Records is still pending due to the organisation’s existing workload and the time required for proper evaluation.
It is important to exercise patience as Hilda’s achievement undergoes the meticulous scrutiny necessary to validate her record.
Below is a list of other Nigerians who have made it into the Guinness Book of Records in recent times:
Gbenga Ezekiel – Record for the most skips in a minute on one leg. (February 2023)
Divine Ikubor aka Rema – Record for ‘Calm Down’ as the first No.1 Hit on The Official MENA Chart, the world’s first regional streaming chart. (May 2023)
Bose Omolayo – The heaviest para power lift by a female in the -79 kg category with 144 kg (December 2021)
Chukwuebuka Ezugha and Victor Richard Kipo – The most consecutive football passes with the soles (team of two). (December 2021)
Folashade Oluwafemiayo – The heaviest power lift by a female in the -86 kg category with 152.5 kg (December 2021)
Chinonso Eche – The most football headers in a prone position in one minute, which is 23. (October 2021)
Vincent Okezie – The most consecutive backward handsprings with a football (soccer ball) between the legs. (March 2022)
Haruna Abdulazeez – The most American football touches with the feet in one minute (October 2020)
Peter Aho – Record for six wickets for five runs in 3.4 overs against Sierra Leone. (October 2021)
Bayo Omoboriowo – The largest photo book, which was measured at 60.84 m² (654 ft² 87 in²). (September 2021)