Chef Dammy, a courageous lady from Ekiti state, has recently made headlines for her remarkable feat of cooking for 120 hours non-stop. She started her cookathon on Friday, June 9, and ended it on Tuesday, June 13, surpassing the previous record of 100 hours set by Hilda Baci, the ‘Jollof Queen’.
However, many Nigerians have been wondering if Chef Dammy actually broke a Guinness World Record or if she just cooked for passion or publicity. Some have also questioned if she followed the right procedure or if she copied Hilda Baci’s idea.
To clear the air, Legit.ng contacted Guinness World Records to find out if they were aware of Chef Dammy’s cookathon and if they had received an application from her. The response they got was surprising and revealing.
Guinness World Records said that they did not receive any application from Chef Dammy or her organizers regarding her cookathon. They also said that applications can be made via their website for their records management team to review.
“We have not received an application for this attempt. Applications can be made via the Guinness World Records website for our records management team to review.” GWR replies Legit.ng.
They further explained that once an application is accepted, the record claimant receives a set of detailed guidelines and evidence requirements that must be followed and submitted for their team to verify the record.
“Once an application is accepted, the record claimant receives a set of detailed guidelines specific to that record category that must be adhered to.”
“This also details a list of evidence that must be submitted for our team to verify the record.
“Guinness World Records maintains a rigorous review process to maintain the integrity of each Guinness World Records title.”
They also said that there is no waiting time to attempt to break an existing record.
“There is no waiting time to attempt to break an existing record,” GWR said.
This means that Chef Dammy did not follow the official process of Guinness World Records and did not provide any proof of her achievement to them. Therefore, she did not break any Guinness World Record and her cookathon was not recognized or certified by them.
However, this does not mean that Chef Dammy’s cookathon was a failure or a waste of time. On the contrary, she displayed a lot of skill, creativity and endurance during her cooking marathon. She also received a lot of support and admiration from fellow chefs, celebrities and fans who followed her journey on social media.
She also inspired other Nigerian chefs who want to challenge themselves and showcase their talents. One of them is Prince Ogbomoso, who announced his intention to attempt a 140-hour cookathon later this year.
Chef Dammy may not have broken a Guinness World Record, but she certainly broke a personal record and made history in her own way. She also proved that cooking is not just a hobby or a profession, but a passion and an art.
