Liberian professional cook, Wonyean Aloycious Gaye, popularly known as Chef Aloycious, says he is challenging the Guinness World Records for the longest time spent cooking, currently held by Nigerian chef, Hilda Baci.
The Guinness Book of World Records is, however, yet to officially approve Hilda Baci’s cook-a-thon challenge since she ended it last Monday.
Liberia Music Industry, a Liberian entertainment blog announced on Friday that Chef Aloycious was already 20 hours into his challenge, with other reports saying he is aiming to cook for 120 hours, against Hilda Baci’s 100-hour record.
On his Facebook page, Aloycious has not updated people on the progress of the said challenge since he announced it last week.
He has however been justifying his move amid criticisms, especially from Nigerians, who think his challenge is coming too soon and it not necessary.
“Guinness World Records don’t have a time duration as to when one should break another person’s record. I await approval from Guinness World Records, not Nigerians,” he said.
Among many Nigerians who have criticized the Liberian is Nollywood actor, Kanayo O. Kanayo. He views the move as a “disservice to creativity” meant to “spoil” what Hilda Baci cook has done.
“Because our own Nigerian Linda Bacy cooked for a hundred hours, some people from some other African countries are saying they are going to top it. Don’t forget, between 2019 – 2023 is four years. So why are Africans doing a disservice to what this lady has done? Why don’t you create your own opportunity? Why don’t you create your own niche, find a different area to break the Guinness Book of World Records?” Kanayo said in a video.
Surprisingly, Hilda Baci finds nothing wrong with Chef Aloycious attempting to challenge her record.
Asked what she thought about it during a recent press conference in Lagos, she replied: “…and I pray that he does it the same and even does it better. There’s no contempt. I just hope that he has done the right documentation, he has gotten the approval to attempt to, so that he doesn’t go through the same stress and doesn’t get the validation from Guinness”.
Hilda Baci made history last Monday, when she rounded off her four-day “cook-a-thon” challenge after cooking for over 100 hours non-stop.
She challenged the Guinness World Book record held by Indian chef, Lata Tandon, who cooked for 87 hours in 2019.
Guinness World Records is yet to certify her challenge.
