Viral Man Who Collected Food with Bare Hands at Hilda Baci’s Jollof Cook-Off Receives Help

A man who went viral after being captured collecting food with his bare hands during Hilda Baci’s largest jollof rice cook-off has now been offered assistance.

The highly publicized event, held at Eko Hotel and Suites as reported by Gistrad, attracted more than 20,000 attendees and brought together celebrities, food lovers, and dignitaries. Nollywood star Funke Akindele was among those who joined Baci and her team in preparing the massive feast.

Hilda Baci, already a household name after her record-breaking cook-a-thon in May 2023 where she cooked non-stop for 93 hours and 11 minutes, organized the cook-off in her bid to set another Guinness World Record for the world’s largest pot of jollof rice. Although her cooking marathon record was later surpassed by Irish chef Alan Fisher, who cooked for 119 hours and 57 minutes, Baci’s latest attempt reaffirmed her status as a cultural icon.

Amid the celebrations, a photograph surfaced online showing a man being served jollof rice directly into his bare hands. The image quickly spread across social media, sparking conversations about poverty, dignity, and empathy. Many users expressed concern that such a sight emerged from what was meant to be a celebratory event.

Talent manager Onlyone Kesh reacted strongly to the viral moment, sharing his displeasure in a Facebook post. He criticized the food server for failing to show kindness and empathy, emphasizing that no one should have to collect food with bare hands at such a high-profile occasion. Kesh also revealed that assistance had been extended to the man, though he did not disclose specific details of the support.

Meanwhile, Hilda Baci has continued to engage with her fans by providing behind-the-scenes details of the record-breaking cook-off. In a recent TikTok post, she revealed the staggering amount of ingredients used for the historic attempt. According to her, the recipe required 4,000 kilograms of rice and 300 kilograms of onions, garlic, and ginger, among several other condiments and spices.

The incident involving the viral man has added another layer of conversation around the event, with many praising the gesture of offering him help while others highlight the importance of dignity in such large-scale community gatherings.

Despite the controversy, Hilda Baci’s cook-off remains a milestone in Nigeria’s cultural and culinary landscape, drawing both admiration for its scale and reflection on the social realities that unfolded around it.

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