Sierra Leone Chef Kumba Sinah Attempts Guinness World Record for Longest Cooking Marathon

Chef Kumba Sinah, popularly known as Kumzee of “My Food by Kumzee,” began her attempt to cook continuously for 163 hours on November 5, 2026, at Kabbana, Lumley Beach Road, Freetown. The cookathon aims to set a new Guinness World Records title for the longest cooking marathon by an individual. Kumzee's team announced that she had completed a full day of non-stop cooking in the early hours of November 7. By later that morning, she had pushed on to 34 hours completed of the 163-hour attempt.

The cookathon has drawn large crowds to the venue, with supporters flooding in to motivate Kumzee to achieve her goal. The event has also been live-streamed on social media, and the venue has advertised free entrance and free food, turning the record attempt into a community festival on Lumley Beach Road. Throughout the attempt, food prepared at Kabbana is being served to the crowd, showcasing Sierra Leonean cuisine. The event has been described as celebratory, patriotic, and communal, with many Freetown residents in attendance.

Kumzee's journey to this record attempt has not been easy. In a video shared in July, she showed an email from Guinness World Records confirming her application had been accepted. However, in September, she posted an emotional message describing a year of hard work, frustration, and heartbreak due to lack of support and funding. Despite these challenges, her persistence paid off, and she finally got the green light to go ahead in November.

The longest cooking marathon has become one of the most contested records in West Africa since Nigerian chef Hilda Baci’s 93-hour, 11-minute attempt in May 2023. That record was later broken by Irish chef Alan Fisher, who cooked for 119 hours, 57 minutes, and 16 seconds in Japan in September-October 2023. Liberian-Australian chef Evette Quoibia then raised the bar to 140 hours, 11 minutes, and 11 seconds, a mark Kumzee is now aiming to surpass with her 163-hour target.

If Kumzee completes 163 hours under Guinness rules — which allow only short, regulated rest breaks — she will set a new world benchmark and become the first Sierra Leonean to hold the title. The cookathon is not just about endurance; it is also a showcase of Sierra Leonean cuisine. The event has been well-received by the community, with many residents expressing their support for Kumzee.

The record attempt has garnered significant attention on social media, with many influencers and bloggers covering the event. Kumzee's team has been providing live updates from the venue, sharing photos and videos of the cookathon. The event has also attracted local media attention, with several news outlets covering the story.

The cookathon is scheduled to end on November 11, 2026, at 4:00 PM. If Kumzee succeeds in her attempt, she will be the first Sierra Leonean to hold the Guinness World Record for the longest cooking marathon. The event has brought the community together, showcasing Sierra Leonean cuisine and demonstrating the country's culinary talent.

Key points

• Chef Kumba Sinah aims to cook for 163 hours to set a new Guinness World Record for the longest cooking marathon by an individual.