Argungu International Fishing & Cultural Festival: More Than Just a Fishing Festival
Outside the Durbar, Argungu International Fishing and Cultural Festival is possibly the biggest socio-cultural event in northern Nigeria. The festival takes place in the city of Argungu, seat of the Argungu Emirate in present-day Kebbi State. Built around fashin ruwa, a local fishing contest of the Kabawa people of the ancient Kabi kingdom held annually around March, the festival is an agglomeration of various local recreational and socio-cultural activities.
Origin
In 1925, the Emir of Kabi, HRH Muhammadu Sama was forced to set up camp for the night on the outskirts of Dange, a village about 25 km out of Sokoto metropolis, while on his way to Kaduna to attend the durbar in honour of Prince Edward VII. Even though there had been consistent hostilities between the Kabawa and the Fulani jihadists of the Sokoto Caliphate, the emir paid a courtesy call on the Ardo of Dange, Hassan Dan Muazu, as a sign of respect. A gesture which forged a friendship between both men and eased the tension between both kingdoms.
A few years after he became Sultan of Sokoto and Sarkin Musulmi, Dan Muazu sent word to his friend he would be paying him a visit. Since the visit was about the period for fashin ruwa, it was decided that the contest would be a fascinating spectacle for his Fulani guest, and was subsequently incorporated into the programme of events.
Over the years, various activities such as Kabanci, dambe, wrestling, archery, catapulting, durbar, cultural nights, educational competitions for school children and an agricultural show for farmers to display their farm produce were incorporated, as festival became known as Argungu Fishing and Cultural Festival. It soon attracted participation from neighbouring communities, states and even nearby countries. In 1974, motor rally and trade fair were introduced, while a fishing village was built some kilometres from Matan Fada River, to provide adequate accommodation for the thousands of visitors who come to witness this great spectacle.
Dating back several years, Fashin Ruwa remains the highlight of the 4-day festival. Once a year, Kabawa fish in the Matan Fada River and the person with the biggest catch was declared winner. Before the contest starts, practitioners of Bori (a traditional belief system), led by the Sarkin Ruwa will step into the brown waters of Matan Fada, to appease the river jinn and ward off any malevolence to the contestants.
With the rites done and the go-ahead given, over 30,000 contestants rush into the river with their nets and gourds, hoping to catch the biggest fish, while a team of judges at the pavilion wait for the big catch to be brought in, as several hundred thousands of spectators watch on the side lines. Once a big catch is brought up, the judges weigh it and record the details with the contestant’s name, and give him a tally. At the end of proceedings, the contestant with the biggest catch of the day is declared winner.
In 2016, Argungu International Fishing and Cultural Festival was inscribed on the Representative List of the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
Read about the Argungu International Fishing and Cultural Festival in the maiden edition of Travels & Thrills magazine.
