After a long pause, one of Nigeria’s most iconic cultural events is back.
The Argungu International Fishing and Cultural Festival officially took place this past weekend in Argungu town, northwestern Kebbi State. Thousands of fishermen, spectators, and tourists gathered along the Matan Fada River for the 61st edition of the festival, marking its return for the first time in six years.
The delay had been caused by a combination of regional insecurity in parts of northwestern Nigeria and funding shortages, forcing organisers to postpone the event repeatedly since 2020.
The Argungu festival is more than a fishing competition. The history of the Argungu festival dates back to 1934 when it was first held as a way of celebrating peace between the Sokoto Caliphate and the Kebbi Kingdom. Today, it has become one of the biggest cultural events that not only promotes identity but also brings about unity in Nigeria.
The festival attracts people from all over Nigeria. Traditions are on full display as men and boys enter the water using traditional tools like hand-woven nets and calabash gourds, competing to catch the largest fish within a limited time.
This year was no different. Competitors lined the riverbank shortly after the opening signal and plunged into the shallow waters, their aim singular: to emerge with the heaviest catch. In a thrilling moment, a fisherman hauled in a 59-kilogram croaker, the largest catch recorded at the festival.
The festival’s return was not just about sport. During the four days, attendees were treated to a rich blend of traditional music, dance, cultural displays, canoe racing, and community festivities, which have long been the hallmark of the Argungu cultural heritage.
The 61st edition of the festival also featured the presence of national leaders. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu was in attendance at the festival, thus underlining the significance of the festival as a platform for cultural diplomacy, tourism, and economic activities associated with the tradition.
As the festival is inscribed on the UNESCO list of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, the restoration of the festival assumes importance beyond the borders of Nigeria. The UNESCO inscription underscores the significance of the festival in the preservation of living heritage, which serves as a bridge between the past and the present, and which promotes a sense of shared identity across generations.
Read Also: 1000 pregnant women set for hepatitis screening
For the people of Kebbi State and many others who attended the festival, the 2026 Argungu festival represented resilience. The festival celebrated traditions that have stood the test of time for centuries, despite the difficulties that once threatened to erase them.
