Afrik Digest

Author: Omotunde

  • HILDA BACI: Nigerian Chef On the Verge of World Breaking Record

    HILDA BACI: Nigerian Chef On the Verge of World Breaking Record

    Nigerian cooking sensation Hilda Effiong Bassey has become a national icon after cooking nonstop for 100 hours, in an attempt to set a world record.

    The chef, known on social media as Hilda Baci, started cooking on Thursday 11th May 2023 and continued until the 14th of May– creating over 55 recipes and more than 100 meals designed to showcase the best of Nigerian cuisine in the marathon kitchen session.

    The Guinness world record committee still has to confirm that all their criteria have been met and whether Bassey will become the record holder.

    Hilda Effiong- Bassey popularly known as Hilda Baci will be soon be officialy pronounced as the world record holder for cooking. Photo: Pulse.ng

    The record to beat – 87 hours and 45 minutes – was set in 2019 by Indian chef Lata Tondon who posted a message of support to Bassey during her attempt.

    Bassey revealed to the press that she was motivated to attempt the record because she wants to put Nigerian food on the global stage.

    “Nigerian cuisine is the best out there,” she said. “The more recipes are propagated, the more people will be willing to try it. Nigerian food is such comfort food,” she added.

    Despite the lack of sleep throughout her cooking spree in Lagos, Bassey remained in high spirits and could be spotted dancing and waving at her fans who turned out in droves to support her.

    One lady, Mercy Egwu, told the media she took a bus journey through the night, traveling hundreds of kilometers to arrive at the venue in Lagos to show her support for Hilda.

    The Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu also visited the venue of Hilda’s world breaking attempt to show his support and throw the backing of the state government at Hilda. The governor who also had a sample of some of the cuisines Hilda prepared expressed his delight at Hild’as resilience, inventiveness and can-do spirit, saying her efforts showcased to the world what makes Nigeria and Nigerians tick.

    Indian chef Lata Tondon is the current world record holder. Photo: Wikipedia

    Hilda also revealed that she did not know she could sit while cooking to break the Guinness world record. The Akwa Ibom State born damsel said she stood for 100 hours cooking because she saw that the contestant who had won the challenge didn’t sit while cooking.

    “I didn’t know I could sit while cooking. I only found out after I completed the challenge that I could.

    “One of the reasons I was intentional about filming the whole process was because when I decided to attempt the challenge, I went online and could only see three videos.

    “One of the reasons why I didn’t know I could sit despite the fact that Guinness didn’t ask me to stand is that when I checked the videos of the previous chef, she was standing.

    “Only after the attempt did I find a clip of her sitting. Maybe before now, no one thought was possible to stand for 100 hours cooking but because somebody has done it, it means it’s possible and doable.”

    Hilda Effiong Bassey was born on the 20th of September, 1996 in Nsit Ubium Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. She graduated with a degree in sociology from Madonna University, Okija and won the “Jollof Faceoff’ competition” In August 2021.

    A snapshot of Hilda during her attempt to break and set a new world record for the longest hours for cooking. Photo: Tribune.Com

    Her Alma Matter, Madonna University recently announced that they would be awarding her a scholarship until PhD level.

    In a statement titled: “Celebrating excellence and congratulating our proud Alumna, Hilda Bassey Effiong” by Associate Professor Martin Anagboso (DVC Admin), the school congratulated the new record breaker for the award of scholarship to PhD level.

    In addition to the scholarship awarded to her, other brands like Dana Air, Zaron Cosmetics, Victoria Crest Homes and many others have showered her with gifts and various sponsorship and modelling opportunities.

  • African quartet handed interesting FIFA U-20 World Cup draw

    African quartet handed interesting FIFA U-20 World Cup draw

    Africa’s contingent at this year’s FIFA U-20 World Cup in Argentina have been handed interesting groups with Nigeria pitted against Brazil and Italy while Tunisia will face England.

    The biennial global youth tournament returns with scintillating matchups following a four-year absence due to the Coronavirus pandemic.

    The tournament will take place between 20 May and 11 June 2023 in the home of six-time champions Argentina following the withdrawal of Indonesia’s hosting rights by FIFA.

    Reigning TotalEnergies U-20 Africa Cup of Nations champions Senegal were drawn as the top seed in Group C alongside Asian giants Japan, the South American campaigners Colombia, and debutants Israel.

    The Teranga Cubs qualified for their fourth FIFA U-20 World Cup earlier this year when they impressively won the TotalEnergies U-20 AFCON for the first time in Egypt without conceding a goal.

    Senegal’s U-20 Soccer team are the African Champions. Can they dominate the world stage ?

    The West Africans have gone past the group stages in each of their three previous appearances. Senegal’s best performance came in their tournament debut in 2015 in New Zealand where they finished fourth place.

    Nigeria’s Flying Eagles have been handed a tricky draw in Group D with European bigwig Italy, tournament favorites Brazil, and first-timers Dominican Republic.

    Nigeria’s U-20 Soccer team will be hoping to win the tournament for the first time.

    The seven-time African champions twice finished second in the global youth jamboree that has produced some of the world’s best players.

    Ladan Bosso and his charges will be hoping to replicate or even better the Class of 2005 who won silver in the Netherlands.

    Tunisia ended their 38-year absence when they survived a marathon quarterfinal contest against Congo to book their place in the tournament.

    Tunisia’s U-20 Soccer team will be participating in their third outing at the tournament.

    Adel Sellimi guided the young Eagles of Carthage to their third FIFA U-20 World Cup to set up intriguing Group E matches against Uruguay, Iraq, and former winners England.

    The North Africans will have to navigate their way from the group with 16 teams guaranteed a place in the knockout phase.

    The Gambia’s Young Scorpions will fancy their chances in Group F following their spirited performance in Egypt.

    Gambia’s U-20 Soccer team will be making their second appearance at the mundial.

    The boys from the ‘Smiling Coast of Africa’ will be making their second appearance in the tournament. They reached the knockout stages in 2007 in Canada before bowing out to Austria.

    Coach Abdoulie Bojang guided the Young Scorpions to their first-ever TotalEnergies AFCON U-20 final in March and with the likes of Adama Bojang, Salifu Colley, and Kajally Drammeh on his side he will fancy his chances.

    They will play former champions France, Korea Republic, and Honduras.

    Full draw:

    Group A: Argentina, Uzbekistan, Guatemala, New Zealand

    Group B: USA, Ecuador, Fiji, Slovakia

    Group C: Senegal, Japan, Israel, Colombia

    Group D: Italy, Brazil, Nigeria, Dominican Republic

    Group E: Uruguay, Iraq, England, Tunisia

    Group F: France, Korea Republic, The Gambia, Honduras

  • Yemi Mobolade: Nigerian Immigrant becomes the first elected Black Mayor of Colorado Springs

    Yemi Mobolade: Nigerian Immigrant becomes the first elected Black Mayor of Colorado Springs

    Yemi Mobolade alongside his wife Abbey during the campaign trail. Photo- Colorado Sun

    Just eighteen months ago Yemi Mobolade, a Nigerian immigrant and businessman who moved to Colorado Springs in 2010 was a political newcomer who set out to become Colorado Springs’ next mayor and break the status quo.

    On the 16th of May 2023, he was poised to do just that — and was also on his way to making history as the city’s first elected Black mayor. His victory represents a seismic shift in the political foundations of Colorado’s second-largest city.

    Yemi Mobolade, an unaffiliated, first-time candidate, didn’t just triumph over a veteran Republican politician in Wayne Williams by double digits in the city’s mayoral runoff — the Nigerian immigrant ended up upending the board in a once reliably right-leaning city that has been moving towards the center in leaps and bounds going by recent elections.

    Mobolade’s stunning victory represents a seismic political upheaval in Colorado Springs, long known for being a conservative stronghold. Though the city’s municipal elections are nonpartisan, Mobalade, who is neither a Republican nor a Democrat, will be the first mayor not affiliated with the Republican Party since Colorado Springs started electing mayors 45 years ago.

    Mobolade, an immigrant born in Nigeria and who first came to the United States in 1996, said the unofficial election results showed that the voters of Colorado Springs were earnestly yearning for a new kind of leadership and ready to move in another direction.

    “The hunger is for a vision that transcends political party lines. The tiredness and frustration in our city and in our nation is around partisan divide and the fighting that happens,” he said. “People are just ready for a new type of leadership that puts our quality of life ahead of party politics.

    Yemi Mobolade cheers during his victory speech Tuesday, May 16, 2023, during an election watch party at the COS City Hub in Colorado Springs. Mobolade defeated Wayne Williams in the Colorado Springs mayoral runoff to become the first elected black mayor of the city. Photo- The Gazette

    “This was always intended to be a nonpartisan election,” he said. “…The city charter demands that a good mayor … needs to be nonpartisan. I’m glad that I could restore the spirit of the law that we should be abiding by.”

    “Yemi has tremendous crossover appeal,” Republican consultant Daniel Cole told news sources just before the results started trickling in on the night of the 16th of May, 2023. Cole ran an independent group that supported Williams in the first round but sat out the runoff, admitted that internal polling predicted Mobolade’s sweeping win.

    “Polling showed him winning all the Democrats, the vast majority of unaffiliateds and a significant chunk of Republicans, too,” he said.

    Mobolade who has promised a more inclusive and culturally rich city recently said making local history as the first Black mayor elected by Colorado Springs voters is an opportunity he sees for more inclusivity.

    Leon Young served as the city’s first Black mayor, stepping in as interim mayor in 1997 after former Mayor Bob Isaac retired early and resigned from the seat. Young was first elected to the City Council in 1973 and appointed vice mayor in 1981, a position he served in until 1997. After serving for a short time as mayor, Young continued to serve on the City Council until he died in 2001.

    “I’m aware I am a Black leader and that tells a story,” Mobolade told reporters at an event ahead of the Mayoral election. “I hope the story it tells is that Colorado Springs is an inclusive city, that it’s a new day for our city. Young African American kids have said they’re excited to see someone who looks like them running for this office. I hope to inspire the next generation of minority leaders to do great things in this city, as well.”

    Mayoral candidate Wayne Williams prepares to announce his defeat at The Pinery. Photo- The Gazette

    Mobolade will step into the mayor’s office at a critical time in the city’s history, residents and local observers have said in recent months. He will need to work with the City Council to make key decisions about growth, housing affordability, water availability, public safety, parks, transit and investment in roads and economic development.

    In a speech punctuated by cheers from the crowd, Mobolade promised to “get to work” addressing public safety, homelessness, infrastructure, and affordable and attainable housing — promises he’s made over the last 18 months on the campaign trail.

    Yemi Mobolade is Colorado Springs’ former Small Business Development administrator, the Colorado Springs Chamber & EDC’s former vice president of business retention and co-founder of café-style eateries Good Neighbors Meeting House and The Wild Goose Meeting House, as well as business consultant company Niche Coaching and Consulting. Mobolade served as a ministry leader at First Presbyterian Church of Colorado Springs, and then later co-founded the nonprofit COSILoveYou and the CityServe Day movement that united more than 100 churches in service to the community.

    Joe Hollmann, Yemi Mobolade campaign team member, center, and other supporters watch as the early results show Mobolade winning big against Wayne Williams in the Colorado Springs mayoral runoff Tuesday, May 16, 2023, during an election watch party at the COS City Hub in Colorado Springs. Photo -The Gazette

    Mobolade told reporters the first thing he plans to do after being sworn in on June 6 is to meet with city department heads and decide how to lead over the next four years.

    “We will cast a vision for a great city and cast a vision for how we’re going to work for our taxpayers,” he said.

    As the city’s first elected black mayor who has talked about his bold ideas and plans, Mobolade sure has the eyes of Colorado Springs and the entire state primed firmly on him.