Hilda Baci Claps Back: ‘Multiple World Records Still Not Enough to Stop Society Crediting a Man’

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Nigerian celebrity chef and three-time Guinness World Record holder Hilda Baci has addressed recurring claims that her success stems from her relationship with music executive Damilola “Dapper” Akinwunmi, describing the comments as a reflection of deep-seated societal attitudes that diminish women’s independent achievements. 

In an interview shared by Goldmyne TV, Hilda said such remarks do not necessarily annoy her but are “sometimes upsetting.” She added, “I think that it just goes to show where we are as people and what the mindset is, and that also tells how much work and further we need to go.” 

Hilda, who has built a highly visible personal brand through her culinary feats, stressed that the experience has made her more deliberate about how she shows up. “That’s why I’m so intentional about putting in so much effort in representing myself, representing women and just giving more women an opportunity to do better for themselves as well,” she said.

Hilda Baci first exploded into global consciousness in May 2023 when she cooked for 93 hours and 11 minutes, setting the Guinness World Record for the longest cooking marathon by an individual. The feat, livestreamed from Lagos, crashed the Guinness World Records website due to massive public interest and sparked a wave of marathon record attempts across Africa. 

In September 2025, she added further titles by preparing 8,780 kilograms of Nigerian-style jollof rice recognised as both the largest serving of Nigerian-style jollof rice and the largest serving of rice overall  making her a three-time Guinness World Record holder. She has also been honoured as Young Person of the Year at The Future Awards Africa and continues to expand her influence as a restaurateur, content creator, and brand ambassador. 

Despite this clear body of work achieved through extreme physical endurance, meticulous planning, and entrepreneurial drive, sections of the Nigerian public and social media continue to link her visibility, lifestyle, or professional growth to her partner. Dapper, founder of Dapper Music and Dapper Group, operates primarily in the music industry and remains significantly less known to the wider public than Hilda herself.

This pattern is familiar to many successful Nigerian women. Hard-won accomplishments in business, entertainment, academia, or sports are frequently reframed through the lens of a male partner’s influence, money, or connections even when the woman is the more publicly recognised figure. Hilda’s case is particularly striking because her breakthrough moment predates widespread public knowledge of her relationship and was driven by a viral, self-initiated cooking marathon that put Nigerian cuisine and African endurance challenges on the global map. 

By speaking out, Hilda is  highlighting a mindset that still struggles to accept women as the primary authors of their own success. Her response goes beyond personal frustration: she is using the platform her records have given her to push for broader recognition of women’s labour and to create pathways for other women. 

For Feminist observers , Hilda’s comments serve as both a diagnosis and a call to action. When a woman with multiple Guinness World Records still has to explain that she earned her place, the work of changing cultural narratives remains urgent. Her intentionality about representation offers a model  visibility used not just for personal brand-building, but to expand space for other women to succeed on their own terms.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​