Argungu fishing festival: Nigeria’s Tinubu among thousands mesmerised by 59-kg fish
Nigeria’s UNESCO-listed Argungu Fishing and Cultural Festival is one of the biggest cultural events in West Africa.
A giant 59-kilogramme catch was the major highlight of Nigeria’s Argungu Fishing and Cultural Festival, one of the biggest cultural events in West Africa.
The UNESCO-listed festival in northwestern Nigeria’s Kebbi state returned last week with its 61st edition, culminating on Saturday, 14 February, after a six-year hiatus.
More than 50,000 fishers from across Nigeria and neighbouring Niger, Cameroon and Chad, as well as Togo, competed, floating on the Matan Fada river and hunting for the biggest catch, amid cheers by hundreds of thousands of spectators.
Nigerian fisherman Abubakar Usman, who hails from Maiyama area of Kebbi state, emerged as the overall winner after catching the hefty 59-kilogramme fish.
He clinched a prize of two new cars and one-million-naira cash, which is the equivalent of $739.
Hundreds of much smaller catches ended up at a makeshift market set up on nearby streets.
Tourism boost
Nigerian President Bola Tinubu, who was the special guest of honour, said what he witnessed was “more than a festival,” adding that the event was a testament to people now “reclaiming their peace.”
He also highlighted the importance of the festival in boosting culture, tourism, agriculture and commerce.
Entertainers added colour and glamour to the event, which has turned the town of Argungu into a global tourism attraction.
The last edition of the annual festival was held in 2020 before it was halted due to the Covid-19 pandemic and security challenges posed by armed kidnapping gangs across the region.
For the Emir of Argungu, Alhaji Samaila Muhammad Mera, hosting the festival this year was a victory for peace, culture and heritage.
The Argungu Fishing and Cultural Festival was first organised in 1934 by the then-traditional ruler of Argungu, Muhammad Sama, to mark an end to years of distrust between his community and the region's most powerful ruler, the then-Sultan of Sokoto, Hassan Dan-Mu'azu.
Over the decades, the festival has grown into one of West Africa’s biggest cultural events, drawing international visitors and becoming a crucial topic being taught in Nigerian schools.
In 2009, it earned a place in the UNESCO List of Intangible Heritage of Humanity, mandating the whole world to protect it from any harm or extinction.