Chef Damilola Adeparusi’s resolve to cook for 120hours has seen Nigerians broken into two camps as Hilda Baci supporters cast aspersion on the Ekiti-born undergraduate, writes David Kabiyesi
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The night that preceded Rickey Lumpkin’s day with history was a moment that would remain vivid in his memory even if he lives to be 150 years old.
Passionate about helping African kids gain access to education, Rickey could barely sleep due to the anxiety and the pain he was about to put himself through. Like Jesus heading to Golgotha, Rickey wishes ‘this cup’ be taken away from him. But Alas! he knew this is the cup he must drink from just for the sake of that underprivileged African kid whose future is linked to his success
By the next morning, he made up his mind to go after his dream even though he feared the worst. But as he went through the rigors of cooking for long hours, he had a choice either to sink or stay afloat, but the pictures of those African kids who hawk and beg on the street would flash back to him, it was those imaginary pictures that kept him going.
By the time he looked at his old dingy wall clock dangling on the faded wall of his kitchen, he had set a world record time of a cooking marathon of 68 hours, 30 minutes, and 1 second. The Los Angeles chef became the first man to hold a cooking marathon record-holder, and he went on to raise $45, 000
Then came the eminent culinary marvel Lata Tandon, from Rewa, Madhya Pradesh, India. Driven by her passion to showcase India’s culinary and healthy eating, she went on to set a new record for the cooking marathon in a return time of 87 hours and 45 minutes to have her footprint on the sands of time, but Rickey Lumpkin’ celebrated her feat.
While Lata Tandon was still basking in the euphoria of her record, another beauty goddess appeared on the scene. Hilda Baci defied the odds and went through hell and high-waters to set a new cooking record of 93 hours 11 minutes.
With her record about to go up in flames, Lata Tandon sent in her message to Hilda Baci saying:
“Calling for peace, the Indian chef wrote on her Instagram story on Tuesday, A Humble Request to all my Sisters and Brothers in Nigeria & India – to maintain peace and wait for Guinness to officially announce if the Current Record is broken or not.
“Please don’t make it a Competition. It’s just a record, my friends. I am a peace-loving person and wish the same for you.”
Those were Tandin’s words. One month later, Guinness Word Record confirmed Baci as the current holder of the longest hours of cooking, and Nigerians were thrown into a frenzy upon hearing the news.
Chef Damilola Adeparusi Conundrum
The emergence of Chef Damilola Adeparusi, an Ekiti-born undergraduate who is aiming to beat poverty by attempting to cook for 120 hours is already causing controversies among Nigerians as we speak.
The name-calling and campaign of calumny against Chef Dammy”s bold step is fast becoming a soap opera that is capable of dividing the country right from the top down to the middle.
Hilda Baci’s camp is furious that another Nigerian is among to destroy her efforts. Social media have been awash with expressions like “Bad belle people”, When will she off her stove and firewood? This girl, don’t do this to your sister na”
But all that comes to mind in all these comments is the typical Nigerian monopolistic attitude to life; one person wants to be the only rich in his family, have the best car, and use the best phone and once someone else acquires the same thing, they feel bad and threatened. It is the cankerworm that has eaten deep into Nigerians
But are records not meant to be broken? So where is the anger towards Damilola coming from? Adeparusi stated in clear terms that her vision is to get all the attention and support she needs to have her restaurants support her parents and siblings. Rather than being happy that another Nigerian undergraduate is working her ass out to break the long chains of poverty, many are determined to pull her down.
Is it because Damilola Adeparusi is the daughter of a nobody compared to the tall, elegant and beautiful, and popular Hilda Baci?
But she has come out to calm the frayed nerves of Hilda Baci supporters.
” Dear Nigerians, I’m not doing this to stop Hilda Baci. She is a senior colleague and I respect her.
I’m only trying my capabilities and I welcome all criticism.
I will keep cooking until 120 hours and I’m not doing it for world record either. I believe the media have so far helped a lot.
I may get recognition from here which may help me to get a good restaurant.
God bless you all for the support so far,”
Good enough, she has been getting all the support most especially from Mrs Olayemi Oyebamji, Ekiti state First Lady.
As at press time, Damilola has cooked for 120 hours, and she is waiting for Guiness World Record to verify her time. With the look of things, she is already a star and would not only get the support to set up a restaurant but a strong pat on her back for stepping up.
Finally
Nigerians should learn to support every good cause rather than pull it down. Would the rich or better still, politicians be willing to help Damilola Adeparusi set up her dream restaurant without demanding for something in return? Now she is working hard to beat poverty and people are witch-hunting her. Besides, Guiness World Record does not offer any financial rewards to record holders.
If she is eventually cleared by Guiness World Record, it means another Nigerian would have lifted her family out of the shackles of poverty and Nigeria would be better off. The Bible says whatever your hands findeth to do, do it with all your might. It’s your talent the world will pay for. More heads will rear up after Dammy because records are meant to be broken and not kept. The question is who is next?
