On Monday 15th of May 2023, 27 year old Hilda Bassey Effiong, known as Hilda Baci, attempted a new Guinness World Record for the longest cooking marathon by an individual.
She lit her cooker at exactly 4pm on Thursday the 11th of May and by 8:32 am on Monday the 15th, she had cooked for 88hrs, 32mins, breaking the standing record of 87hrs, 45mins which was set by Indian Chef Lata Tondon in 2019.
Bassey did not stop but went on till 8:00pm on Monday 15th, setting a new record of 100hrs of marathon cooking.
The Internet was agog with messages of support and prayers all through the process and the news of her great feat literally broke the internet when she was done.
Bassey has also has trended on all social media platforms and her monicker #HildaBaci became the second most searched person in Nigeria with over 200,000 Google searches.
Bassey’s victory has been credited to a number of factors, and rightly so.
Her determination and resilience, the long process of preparation over a period of 5 years, including practicing and physical fitness training, her medical team, her media crew, her kitchen assistant simply known as Chef Sunday as well as the cheers and love shown by fans. All these are undeniably strong contributory factors to achieving this great feat.
In all of the stories that have been written however, there is an obvious, indispensable yet unsaid factor, technology.
How tech simplified the process for Hilda Baci
The role of technology is evident from the conception of the dream, through the preparation, into the execution and all the way to the final declaration by the Guiness World Record.
In fact, the whole process relies heavily on technology in different ways.
The first recommendation of the Guinness World Record to anyone going for a world record attempt is to “explore the World Records database thoroughly.” This is because every newly approved record idea has to be significantly different from existing records and must demonstrate a completely new skill.
Guinness World Records reject about 60% of applications for new records because they do not meet the above requirements.
Imagine the possibility of accessing the world record database if it was compiled in books and stacked in a library somewhere. Hilda Baci‘s idea might as well have been dead before it was born!
Technology put all that information in the palm of her hands.
Next step after deciding on what record to go for, is the application.
The chaotic scene of ambitious and eager humans all gathered physically in a place trying to submit an application form should only be imagined, not experienced.
Or maybe a better option would have been sending the application via courier services, in Bassey’s case, from Nigeria to Canary Wharf in London, or to the New York office, or Tokyo.
Thanks to technology, all of that gets done in a few taps and clicks!
Guidelines and instructions are sent in response to the application and expected to be strictly followed as attempts get rejected when the requirements are not met.
On the list of requirements by the Guinness World Record is “documenting the attempt and sending as evidence.”
The evidence, including real-time videos and pictures are required to be uploaded online in specific formats. All other factors and efforts will be judged by this one thing; proper documentation and submission of evidence.
The evidence will be supported by a cover letter, witness statements, timekeeper statement, stewards statement (for mass participation) judges statement, e.t.c.
Bassey’s unconfirmed victory was witnessed by many; both physically by supporters at the venue and virtually by all who wanted to, via a dedicated Instagram page @hildabacioookathon and a temporary Youtube stream – thanks to tech. All that would not count if the event was not well documented and successfully uploaded online as required.
On Monday 15th of May, Guinness World Records tweeted: “We’re aware of this amazing record attempt, we need to review all the evidence first before officially confirming a record.”
The support Bassey got from the crowd showing up and cheering her on, calls from, and physical presence of celebrities and public figures including high ranking public office holders undeniably went a long way in keeping her mentally and emotionally energized to pull off this great feat.
All that is borne on the strong wings of information and communication technological advancements.
Technonological inadequacies that affected DJ Venum’s GWR effort
The need to highlight tech playing a major role in Hilda Baci‘s yet-to-be-confirmed record is the case of DJ Venum (Venmark Agboola) who embarked on a world record attempt for the longest performing DJ in 2018.
Reports said he performed for 18days; August 1-18, 2018 in Akure and gathered as much as 300,000 people over the 18days, but due to technological inadequacies, his attempt wasn’t confirmed by the Guinness World Record.
Speaking to TechCabal, DJ Venum said he wasn’t recording real time and so he couldn’t give adequate documentation of the process as required. “… I couldn’t send live evidence,” he admitted.
Technology has been deeply woven into our daily life activities and a lot may not be achievable without it.
Congratulations are sure in order for Bassey while we await the verdict from the Guinness World Record Team.