Thousands of local fishermen were making waves again at the UNESCO-listed fishing festival in Kebbi state. The annual event has not been held for the past 6 years due to regional insecurity.
Nigeria’s Argungu Fishing Festival was officially back in action for its 61st iteration on Saturday in Argungu town in northwestern Kebbi state.
The UNESCO-listed festival has not taken place for the past six years due to regional insecurity and funding shortages.
Parts of Kebbi state have experienced jihadist attacks in recent years, with analysts blaming the Lakurawa terror group for the deadly violence.
Tens of thousands gather for drawcard festival
But, the festival was again making waves as thousands of people descended on the area to attend the event.
Local media reported that some 40,000 participants defied the scorching 39 degree Celsius heat (102 Fahrenheit) to take part in the festival that was first staged in 1934.
Since then, it has grown into one of Nigeria’s biggest cultural events, bringing in visitors from around the world.
Nigeria’s Punch newspaper reported that just minutes after noon, excited fishermen plunged into the murky waters of the Matan Fadan river, even before the formal opening ceremony and the arrival of President Bola Tinubu.
The president arrived more than two hours later, after which the contest was restarted.
Amid the sound of chanting and drumbeats, fishermen began hunting for the biggest fish. Using traditional methods and aided by hand-woven nets and large calabash gourds, they were buoyed by the cheers of thousands of onlookers.
Local fisherman bags catch of the day
Abubakar Usman hauled out the day’s biggest fish — a 59-kilogram monster — that earned him two new saloon cars donated by the Sokoto state government, several bags of rice, and a 1-million-naira cash prize (about $739 or €622).
Hundreds of smaller fish caught on the day were taken to a nearby makeshift market.
“I thank God that I got something to take home to my family to eat. I am very happy that I came,” Aliyu Muhammadu, a 63-year-old fisherman who participated in the competition, told the Associated Press.
Argungu International Fishing and Cultural Festival
According to UNESCO, the Argungu International Fishing and Cultural Festival contributes to a sense of identity and also helps maintain peace between the Argungu and neighboring Sokoto community with the enjoyment of shared cultural practices.
There were days of activities leading up to festival on Saturday, among them cultural events and a motor rally from Nigeria’s capital, Abuja.
Rukaya Ismaila, 23, told the AFP news agency that said she had traveled from Kogi state, some 850 kilometers (about 530 miles) away, to attend the festival for the very first time.
“The famous Argungu that we’ve been told about since primary school,” she said.
“It is worth all the excitement,” she added and praised the way the fishermen helped one another out.
Edited by: Zac Crellin
DW News
