It was supposed to be the biggest pot of jollof rice the world had ever seen but things didn’t go as planned.

In Lagos, thousands of people gathered to watch a world record attempt for the largest pot of jollof rice. The recipe included an unbelievable amount of food: 4,000 kg of rice, 500 cartons of tomato paste, 600 kg of onions, and 168 kg of goat meat, all mixed into a giant pot built to hold 23,000 liters. Ten chefs in bright red uniforms used giant wooden spoons to stir the food while the crowd cheered.

But when the time came to weigh the dish, disaster struck. As a crane lifted the enormous pot, one side buckled and a supporting leg gave way. Luckily, the food didn’t spill, and the dish was still cooked to perfection. Portions of the jollof were then shared with the huge crowd, turning the failed record attempt into a community feast.

The challenge wasn’t rushed, planning took almost a year. “We [Nigerians] are the giant of Africa, and jollof is a food that everybody knows Africans for,” the chef explained in an interview. “It would make sense if we had the biggest pot of jollof rice.”

According to her team, the attempt will still be submitted to Guinness World Records for official certification. The organization had already sent her a message of good luck before the event.

Even though the record hasn’t been confirmed, the moment captured the pride and love Nigerians have for their most famous dish. The pot may have broken, but the celebration of jollof rice was a success.