Many festivals are being held in Nigeria like the Argungu fishing festival. The Argungu Fishing Festival is an exciting annual event held in the northwestern part of Nigeria, in a town called Argungu, in Kebbi State.
It’s been around for over 80 years. Originally, it was a way for local farmers to celebrate the end of their harvest season. What started as a local harvest celebration has grown into a four-day festival packed with fishing contests, traditional music, and dancing, which shows off the rich culture of Argungu.
The Festival Itself
The Argungu Fishing Festival which first began in the year 1934, lasts for four days, usually happening in February or March. The festival kicks off with various activities like traditional dances, canoe races, wrestling matches, and music performances etc. However, among the list of activities, there is an activity that is basically the highlight of the festival. This activity is the fishing competition, which is the one that draws the most attention.
People from Argungu and beyond enter the contest to catch the largest fish in the river. They use special hand-woven nets and fish in the Mata Fadan River. There are rules that everyone must follow, like only using traditional nets and catching fish in a certain way. According to Applied Worldwide Nigeria, “contestants are allowed to use only traditional tools, and the fish must be caught without hooks.” The person who catches the biggest fish wins prizes like money and other gifts.
In 2020, Abubakar Ya’u who caught a fish of 78kg received a cash prize of ₦10 million, two hajj seats, and two cars. For context, Hajj is an annual Islamic pilgrimage to the holy city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia. It is one of the Five Pillars of Islam, which are the core beliefs and practices of Islam. Every able-bodied Muslim who can afford to make the journey is required to perform Hajj at least once in their lifetime.
Economic Impact of the Festival
The Argungu Fishing Festival brings in tons of visitors from all over, which means a lot of money for that particular region and Kebbi State. It goes without saying that visitors who come for this yearly celebration will spend money on lodging, meals, and travel. This extra money can help boost the local economy and support businesses that cater to visitors.
Second, the festival benefits the Argungu local businesses to some extent. There are stores in the town center that sell souvenirs, clothing, and handcrafted goods from the area. As long as tourists continue to purchase souvenirs and gifts over the holiday season, these stores will witness a significant boost in sales. This surge in festive income leads to better business and more opportunities for local shops.
In addition, the festival also creates job opportunities. For a big festival like the annual Argungu festival, there are usually different departments that require all hands to be on deck. Therefore, people are hired for temporary jobs like helping with the event, and providing security during the festival etc.
Conclusion
Finally, we still need to consider any challenges or issues concerning this festival. One important issue of this festival is overfishing. The nature of this festival may place a strain on the fish population in the Mata Fadan River. Following that, the Argungu Fishing Festival promotes local culture, the economy, and community ties.
