At the grand finale of Chef Tope’s Cook-a-thon exercise, the euphoria and aroma welcoming people to Ogbomoso Recreation Club is second to none. It is not just like a party. For one week, it was a non-stop carnival. Students, old and young people flooded the venue of the exercise, not just to see the cooking wonder but also taste the different types of food coming from the kitchen.
Aside from the tennis court where the temporary kitchen is mounted, on the training pitch of the Ogbomoso Recreation Club were tents and stages for musicians where several musicians performed everyday till day break.
The lovers of table tennis added colour to the environment as they thrilled spectators throughout the exercise. But all those were support scenes. The main attraction for the weeklong event was the competition for the Guinness World Record in marathon cooking. Tope Adebayo was thus the one for whom all the others, musicians and tennis players entertained the crowd.
Tope Adebayo, popularly known as Tope Maggie, who started the cooking exercise Thursday, November 9 was the cynosure of all eyes. He is the reason those who hardly stop over at the Recreation Club prior to his setting shop there on Thursday November 9 came to lay wait for a record that the world was waiting for. For the teeming crowd of fans Tope Maggie was like a deity in the cubicle where he churned out a series of delicacies for one week.
Alabi Tunji Michael, alias ATM, General manager of the exercise, described the exercise as successful. He said on a daily basis, they cook two to three bags of rice, aside semolina, Amala, spaghetti, and others. That must have cost a lot. Perhaps, that cost cannot be determined immediately. ATM said, “We spent a very huge amount of money. (If you) look at the kitchen constructed alone, we spent millions of Naira. Running generating set alone is huge, because we are live and it mustn’t break”
Tope Adebayo, according to him, started cooking at the age of 6 years, then while helping his mother, a restaurateur who managed Mama Maggie Restaurant. He, however, started his catering career 22 years ago. When asked if he is not tired, Tope said cooking has been part of him that he can do it for a whole month.
“Sometimes I cook for an event and after having been through with the event I won’t sleep before another client calls for another party, so it’s been part of me”, he said.
Shola Aboderin, who has been eating Tope Maggie’s food for the past 30 years now, described Tope as a hardworking guy who knows his onions. Hear Aboderin, “I feel great tasting World Best Chef, his foods have been very sweet, but today’s food is greater than before”
Margret Adebayo, Mama Maggie, mother of Tope Maggie, is overwhelmed with joy with the turn out.
“I didn’t know it was going to be like this, I’m very happy for my son, though it’s not easy oo”, the joyous mother enthused.
“Brother Tope is a thoroughbred and a born cook, very hardworking and a cheerful giver” Bose ojo, one of Tope’s workers said. She added that “aside our salary, myself and other co-workers, Tope gives us money without deducting the money from our earnings”
“I pray he excels more than this in life” Ojo prayed.
Shina Abiola Peller, former member of House of Representatives and chairman, Aquila Group was at the grand finale of the Cook-a-thon to show support to Chef Tope “ I am here to support our dear brother, Chef Tope who has set a new World Record for Cook-a-thon. A few months ago, we had a lady, our sister who set the record then and just few months after had Allan Fisher, from Ireland and took that record to the next level. But why we are happy this is happening here, is that Oyo State is the Pacesetter state, we set pace (for others to follow)”.
He further said that “Africa has a lot of fire burning in us, creatively. Cook-a-thon is a party of creativity. This guy has been cooking since Thursday, November 9th and he has cooked over 400 meals. While doing that, he is putting Nigeria’s name on the map, Oyo State on the map, and Ogbomosho’s name on the map. He is also encouraging a lot of young people, letting them understand that the power to help themselves lies in them. So I see it is very important for me to be here to support Chef Tope and also to boost his morale.
Akinwole Solomon Akinwale, popularly known as Wolekanle, a politician, was also a morale booster to Tope. He was all over the venue till the end on the last day. Whenever Tope saw him, he smiled and continued even though it was apparent that he was tired.
Akinwale described Tope as a very humble, energetic, and resourceful person. “I am here in support of our own Chef Tope. We are all here not because Tope is cooking for 200 hours but because Tope is a good guy. He is a good example for our youths to emulate. Everybody loves him, if you look around you see both male, female, young, old ones and workers, staff from different organisations are here. For this reason, we urge State and Federal (governments) to please come to the aid of Tope. We are happy that Tope was able to achieve this. When Tope gets encouragement from Government both state and Federal and endorsement from organisations, it will encourage youths to understand that hard work pays a lot”.
In the meantime, Akinwale said, “We are happy has won it”, daring anyone who wants “to challenge this feat, (to) come out.” So, what if the challenger beats Tope’s record like he did to others before him? Akinwale said, “I trust Tope, he will also challenge such a person”.
For Adeola Alade, an aunt to Tope Maggie, “Tope’s delicacy is always perfect, I have been eating his food since he was 10 years old, he is a very hardworking fellow.”
Adebunmi Oyewusi, younger sister to Tope, “I feel elated and happy that my brother has broken the Guinness World Record, because it’s a good thing for the family, for the state and for the country at large.”
While acknowledging that the feat was not an easy task for her brother, she said, the family “thank God who made it easy for him to scale through.”
“(The World) need male chefs more than girls now,...”-Chef Tope
By Sultan Bello
Your real name is Prince Tope Adebayo, but you adopted your mother’s brand name Maggie (which came from her first name too). Why did you, a man, decide to adopt mama’s name for your business instead of creating one for yourself?
Well, my Mom’s name has been well known in Ogbomoso as a caterer and she was known by her very smoking Jollof rice. (People would say) “Where did you get this rice from? This must be Iya Maggie Jollof rice, right?
So, that name has been established before I even went to catering school.
Hope there won’t be any problems from your siblings?
No, no, no. Not at all
How long have you been in this cooking business?
It has been a while, let’s say, twenty 22 years.
Some people said you have been into cooking since the age of ten years, how apt is this?
I have been cooking since the age of six years, but when I started my business, using a catering service to make money was when I was around twenty (20) years because I am 42 years old now.
Your target is to make 200 cooking hours, was there a time in the course of the exercise that you entertained fears that you may probably not be able to continue, maybe as a result of fatigue?
No! You know, there is always fear in success. One thing I know is this, I am very good at cooking and it is what I have been doing all my life. So, I don’t have any problem cooking from Monday to Sunday, even for a whole month.
None stop?
Yes, none stop! You know there is a kind of rest but very very short, five minutes in every one hour and you can accumulate your five minutes, for example, if you work 12 hours, you can rest for one hour. Then, if you work 24 hours, you have a chance to rest for two hours.
You know sometimes even when there is no competition, you go out for catering service, you have to work for 24 hours and after working for 24 hours, you have to make sure the food get to be served. We do the cooking and the service.
So cooking is not my problem but the materials that we need, the foodstuffs, to cook the food, because people need to be served free according to the laid down rules.
And you have been serving people free since Thursday, November 9th?
Till today, and today is the last day. Every meal served here is free, as you are witnessing it right now.
What or who inspired you to become a chef?
Well, my mom has always been telling me, what do you want to go and do in a College of Education? I initially studied English Language at the Kwara State College of Education. But as at that time, my mum used to need me for her catering jobs. I had to leave school to come down to Ogbomoso. My mom said why can’t you go to Polytechnic to study catering but I didn’t listen. But there was a certain man, who happened to be a chartered accountant in First Bank because my mom’s shop is not far from the First Bank branch, in Ogbomoso. He now sat me down and told me why I should go to catering school with the skills I have, (and the passion) he saw in me. I harkened to his advice and I did.
What is the name of the person?
I have forgotten the name of that man but that was the man who actually told me to go to catering school.
Your mother has been with you from the beginning, what is the disposition of your father to this exercise?
It is almost every one of us (the children) that are practising this catering service but I am the only one who is well known. (My siblings) have little services like shops and very small restaurants. I am the only one who went to school to study more about the job and business and after that I have to travel to Lagos to have more knowledge. I have worked with Tuface Idibia for about six or seven months.
You mean 2Baba?
Yes, he has a clubhouse at 15 Oduduwa way, Ikeja. So there is a certain place beside that club house where they used to play snooker. Tuface got me in Ogbomoso, in a hotel and he invited me, and when I got there, he asked me, “What can we do to this place? I told him that we should turn the place into an Amala joint, which we did. We turned it into Just Amala. If I am not mistaken, the Amala joint is still there till today.
As a man, were there times, during your career as a chef, that anyone had tried to cast aspersions at you?
Of course, yes. When we went for an interview, they asked ‘where are the chefs?’ They saw only me as a man among them. We have about three girls, one man. (So, they asked,) ‘Young man, are you also a chef? I said yes, a chef? Okay come inside, Nigerians believe (only a) girl should be a chef, not guy. I think the world is becoming civilised every day. They need male chefs more than girls now, because of the tedious work we have underneath. But when we went into practical, the theory and the practical, I always came out with flying colours. Yet, they insisted they wanted ladies.
How would you describe your acceptability by Nigerians in this contest?
Initially when I came in, a lot of criticism came up, there is a lady who has been doing this bla bla … why can’t you let her rest, but according to what I learnt about these people, the records are meant to be broken. (Even you can break your own record. But some people would then ask why venture into a female environment?) So, why can’t you do another thing, why catering? I don’t have anything I’m doing other than catering. But I thank God.
Even before you concluded the exercise you have been getting support, finance wise, from people (like Mr. Omowaiye, former commissioner in Osun State) who are thrilled by your dedication. If you win and this brings fortune, what do you plan to use the money for?
If you understand this Cook-a-thon very well, they want us to spend ( a greater part of the gain) for charity. I also actually wanted to see what I can do for the kids, most of the kids are not in school, I cannot do it all alone, but the little I can do to bring those who are not in school back to school I will do it.
If it happens that, like you did to Alan Fisher, the last winner, someone emerges tomorrow to take the crown what will be your reaction?
It does not matter, even if it is a minute, once it has been broken, it’s been broken, Alan Fisher broke someone’s record, another person has broken his too, this is me, I have broken it. And someone out there is gonna come out again and break the record.
What message do you have for youths out there?
They should be strong, they should be focused, they should be determined and trust God. They should not look back, once you have a focus, pursue it. With God, you are going to get there.
“Teach your children whatever you’re doing”- Margret Adebayo aka Mama Maggie
BY SULTAN BELLO
No doubt, you are one of the happiest mothers in the world right now. How are you feeling right now ma?
Oh yes, I am the happiest woman right now. I am very happy and delighted. Congratulations to Ogbomoso, Congratulations to Oyo State and Nigeria at large.
What was your initial reaction when your son told you he wanted to enter for that competition?
I believe he can do it. It is what he has been doing year in, year out. Cooking is part of him. He has been a hardworking and supporting son right from his childhood.
What was your initial reaction when your son told you he wanted to enter for that competition?
In the traditional African society it is not such a popular thing to have a man take to cooking. What was the disposition of people within the family and among your friends, when Tope showed interest in cooking?
Both family and friends knew what he could do. They have so much belief in him that when it comes to cooking, he’s always putting in his best. Cooking food is our family business. He has been doing catering services for years.
How long has he been doing it?
More than twenty years now. Not only catering services, he is also an event decorator.
Ogbomoso, and travellers passing through the town, knew Mama Maggie and her food signature. How has it been?
It has been wonderful. With the glory of God almighty, we have government patronage, successive governments, we cook for the government whenever they are doing any event.
Now that your son has broken the Guinness World Record, can you share with us how you feel?
I am a fulfilled mother!
How has been the support of people from Ogbomoso, Oyo State and non-indigenes?
I can tell you categorically that in Ogbomoso, home and abroad, the support has been massive and encouraging. They really showed real love to their son. Government also tried their best but we need them more.
How would you describe Tope, as a young helper in Mama Maggie’s kitchen to the same Tope as the inheritor of that kitchen?
Tope is a strong guy, hardworking. He does not take no for an answer. He has been a goal getter. In fact he does most of the work I am supposed to do at the shop, in a twinkle of an eye, he would have gotten everything done perfectly.
What message do you have for mothers in influencing the career of their children or wards?
What I have for them is that whatever you are doing, do it well and show or teach your children how to do it best. If you are selling pap and you did not teach your children, and he or she gets to go abroad and pap is needed and selling seriously, he or she will now be regretting that his mom did not teach him. Whatever you are doing good, teach your children very well because you don’t know where it will be useful to your children in future.
Even if he goes to Cambridge, teach him. Look at Tope, he is an educated fellow, but it pleases him to do his mum’s work.
Where do you see Tope in the next five years?
By God’s grace, he is going higher.
