A Ghanaian chef, Abdul Razak Failatu, is trying to break the Guinness World Record for the longest time spent cooking by an individual.
Failatu, also known as Faila, started her cooking marathon on January 1st – and her ambitious goal is to reach a staggering 120 hours – which would exceed the current record held by Alan Fisher.
Fisher cooked non-stop for 119 hours and 57 minutes at his Irish-themed restaurant in Matsue, beating the previous record holder, Hilda Baci from Nigeria, by more than 24 hours.
As of this Wednesday morning, January 3rd, 2024, Faila and her crew had cooked 60 meals for over 57 hours and counting.
Thousands have been trooping into the modern city hotel in Tamale, Ghana, to support the resilient chef.
On Wednesday, Ghana’s former president, John Mahama, wrote on his Facebook page, saying, “As I transited through Tamale on my way to my hometown, Bole, the city was agog and filled with excitement at the start of young Chef Failatu Abdul Razak’s attempt to break the Guinness world record for the longest number of hours spent cooking. The latest reports indicate that she’s already passed the 52-hour mark. May he give young Chef Failatu the energy and strength to bring the record home to Ghana.”
In the same post, Mahama was also paying tribute to a deceased chef and described the day as one filled with “both a sad day and a day filled with hope!”
“I woke up to the sad news of the death of Hajia Muni (Auntie Muni Waakye). A veteran caterer who for decades served us mouth-watering ‘waakye’,” Mahama added.
Traditional rulers, celebrities, and security officials have been presented to support her. “Thanks for your support and words of encouragement. I am inspired to keep going,” Faila said.
Ghana’s Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, also extended his support and said, “Faila, I wish you all the best in your attempt to set a new world record with your cook-a-thon. It is possible to break the record and set a new one. Go for gold, Jah bless.”
This will be the umpteenth time an African has attempted to break the same record.
Last week, a Ugandan woman, Mama D, cooked for a straight 144 hours over six days. Guiness World Records has yet to officially confirm her as the winner.
