Entertainment
BREAKING: Hilda Baci’s Giant Jollof Pot Collapses During World Record Attempt in Lagos
A dramatic twist unfolded at the Gino World Jollof Festival with Hilda Baci on Friday night as a massive pot designed for a Guinness World Record attempt collapsed during weighing, halting the proceedings and sparking concern among attendees.
The event, held at Eko Hotel and Suites, was aimed at setting a new record for the world’s largest pot of Nigerian Jollof rice. It attracted thousands of fans, food lovers, and celebrities, including actress Funke Akindele and rapper Falz. Hilda Baci, who became a household name in 2023 after breaking the record for the longest cooking marathon, led the effort.
Over 20,000 people had registered for the free event, with large crowds forming outside the venue throughout the day. Security personnel worked to manage the surging turnout as excitement built for the record attempt.
At the heart of the event was a custom-built pot measuring six metres in both height and width, originally planned to hold over 22,000 litres of rice. However, Baci later revealed that the target was scaled down to 4,000 kilogrammes—approximately 200 bags of rice—for logistical reasons.
To officially verify the weight, a crane was brought in to lift the pot onto a scale. But as the process began, the pot gave way under its own immense weight, collapsing and causing brief panic among spectators. No injuries were reported, but the incident forced organizers to suspend operations immediately.
Videos of the collapse quickly spread across social media, drawing both concern and support from fans online.
A spokesperson for Baci’s team confirmed that safety was the top priority and that they are working with officials to determine the next steps.
Though the fate of the Guinness World Record attempt is uncertain, the event once again demonstrated Baci’s star power and her ability to rally mass support around Nigerian cuisine.
Hilda Baci became a national sensation last year after cooking non-stop for over 93 hours, setting a Guinness World Record that earned her international acclaim.
Entertainment
Beggar found to possess three houses, cars, other businesses acquired from proceeds of begging
In addition, he owned two auto-rickshaws that he had rented out to others, and a car for which he had hired a driver on a salary of 12,000 Rupees (about $130).
•Mangilal
A leprosy-stricken beggar on the streets of Indore in the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh, turned out to be a true slumdog millionaire, with several houses, vehicles and businesses to his name, the media in India reported.
As part of concentrated efforts to make Indore a beggar-free city, local authorities recently rescued a physically-challenged man who had been begging for years in the bustling Sarafa Bazaar.
Unable to walk, the 50-year-old man, known only as Mangilal, spent his days cross-legged on a small wooden platform fitted with wheels, slowly pushing himself around. He had lost his fingers to leprosy, so he was a sorry sight that made many reach into their pockets for a few notes.
Mangilal always stood on his platform with his gaze fixed on the ground, which only made him more pitiful.
But it turns out this was a carefully planned strategy that made him richer than most able-bodied people in the world.
After he was taken off the street, brought in, given a shower, and provided with clean clothes, Mangilal was questioned by civil servants about his situation, and it turned out that he wasn’t as helpless as he appeared.
He reportedly earned thousands of rupees per day begging and was lending money to shopkeepers in the Sarafa Bazaar at interest.
Subsequent checks revealed that he was not homeless but actually owned three houses: a three-storey house, a second house, and a flat that was given to him by a government welfare programme.
In addition, he owned two auto-rickshaws that he had rented out to others, and a car for which he had hired a driver on a salary of 12,000 Rupees (about $130).
Mangilal himself admitted that the money he earned in Safara wasn’t required for survival, but rather a source of funds for various investments.
Officials are currently checking if the 50-year-old beggar has any bank accounts to his name as well.
During the investigation, it was revealed that Mangilal’s family members were also involved in begging.
“I certainly go there, but don’t beg, it’s the people who put the money in my pocket or throw coins or notes on the wooden board,” Mangilal explained.
Entertainment
Seyi Tinubu Appoints Obi Cubana as South-East Regional Director of City Boy Movement
Seyi Tinubu, son of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and patron of the City Boy Movement (CBM), has officially appointed prominent Nigerian businessman and socialite Obinna Iyiegbu, popularly known as Obi Cubana, as the South-East Regional Director of the youth-focused pro-government group.
The appointment was formalized during a visit by Seyi Tinubu to Obi Cubana’s residence in Abuja on Monday night, February 2, 2026, where he personally presented the letter of recognition and appointment. The ceremony, captured in videos circulating on social media, featured supporters singing President Tinubu’s campaign anthem, “On Your Mandate We Shall Stand,” amid cheers and expressions of loyalty to the Renewed Hope Agenda.
The City Boy Movement is a youth-oriented platform aligned with President Bola Tinubu’s administration, aimed at mobilizing support, promoting youth empowerment, innovation, and regional cooperation ahead of the 2027 general elections.
In a post on his Instagram page on Tuesday, February 3, 2026, Obi Cubana shared details of the event and addressed mixed public reactions to his new role. He reaffirmed his commitment to integrity, community development, and inclusive growth, stating, “I am a City Boy through and through, inside and out,” while emphasizing that meaningful change requires active engagement rather than withdrawal.
The appointment has sparked widespread discussions online, with some praising it as a strategic move to strengthen ties in the South-East region, while others have expressed criticism or skepticism. Obi Cubana urged detractors to respect differing perspectives and focus on shared national progress.
This development comes as part of broader efforts by the City Boy Movement to expand its influence and grassroots support across Nigeria in preparation for future political engagements.
Entertainment
Home Alone actress, Catherine O’Hara, dies at 71
Her break into movies came in 1980 with “Double Negative” — also alongside Levy, and John Candy.In 1988, she played Winona Ryder’s stepmother in Tim Burton’s “Beetlejuice.” She would later marry the film’s production designer Bo Welch.
Emmy-winning actress Catherine O’Hara, who starred in “Schitt’s Creek” and “Home Alone,” has died at the age of 71, her management agency said Friday.
AFP reported that the Canadian-born performer also starred in “Beetlejuice” and recently Apple TV’s Hollywood satire show “The Studio.”.
Page Six, citing a fire department spokesman, reported that O’Hara was rushed to hospital before dawn from her home in the swanky Brentwood area of Los Angeles.
AFP was not immediately able to confirm that.O’Hara was born in Toronto in 1954, where she joined the legendary comedy theater Second City, alongside Eugene Levy, with whom she would collaborate throughout her career, including on the smash TV series “Schitt’s Creek.”
Her break into movies came in 1980 with “Double Negative” — also alongside Levy, and John Candy.In 1988, she played Winona Ryder’s stepmother in Tim Burton’s “Beetlejuice.” She would later marry the film’s production designer Bo Welch.
The couple had two sons, Matthew and Luke.But it was in 1990 that she became widely known to a global audience, as the mother of Macaulay Culkin’s Kevin in “Home Alone.”
It’s a perfect movie, isn’t it?” she told People in 2024.You want to be part of something good, and that’s how you go,” she said.She would reprise the role in the film’s sequel — “Home Alone 2: Lost in New York,” which featured a cameo from Donald Trump, decades before he would become US president.
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