A chef from Ghana has been cooking regional meals on live television since New Year’s Day with the goal of setting a new record for continuous cooking.
As of Friday afternoon, Failatu Abdul-Razak had been cooking for over 110 hours at a hotel in Tamale, a city in northern Ghana. Her goal is to surpass the current Guinness world record for a cookathon of 119 hours and 57 minutes, set by Irish chef Alan Fisher.
The endeavor to break the world record is receiving enthusiastic support and widespread celebration in the country of West Africa.
Isaac Sackey, the president of the Chefs’ Association of Ghana, stated that Abdul-Razak has brought recognition to Ghana and it is important to show her respect.
In recent times, West Africa has become a hub for world record attempts in various fields. In May, Nigerian chef Hilda Baci set the record for the longest cooking performance with a 100-hour feat, but was later surpassed by Fisher.
The organization of Guinness World Records has not yet released a statement regarding Abdul-Razak’s endeavor, which may conclude after 120 hours on Saturday.
Celebrities, political figures, and numerous community members have flocked to Tamale’s Modern City hotel to witness the chef’s record-breaking endeavor. The visitors enthusiastically danced, sang, and indulged in the delicious cuisine as the countdown to 120 hours commenced.
Earlier this week, Mahamudu Bawumia, the vice-president of Ghana, made a post on Facebook regarding the recent attack and also contributed 30,000 Ghanaian cedis (£1,981) to the chef.
He encouraged her to aim for the top prize.
Abdul-Razak said at the outset her attempt was a national assignment on behalf of Ghana and its citizens. Among the dishes she has prepared are banku – a traditional dish of fermented cornmeal balls in a soup – as well as the spicy jollof rice enjoyed across west Africa.
She stated that if she were to fail, it would bring embarrassment to the president, Ghanaians, her supporters, mentors, family, and friends.
According to the rules, she is allowed to take five-minute breaks every hour or save them up for one hour after working for 12 hours straight.
There have been concerns expressed about the potential psychological impact on the chef involved in this project. Recently, Afua Asantewaa Owusu Aduonum, a popular media figure from Ghana, had to discontinue her pursuit of breaking the record for the longest time spent singing due to her medical team’s observation of signs of mental strain.
The thrill of the challenge is what motivates those trying to break records, according to Annabella Osei-Tutu, an associate professor of psychology at the University of Ghana. She explains that the hype surrounding record-breaking gives individuals a temporary burst of energy, but they may feel the physical effects afterwards.
Source: theguardian.com
