UGURU OKORIE
FOR some years now, Argungu in Kebbi State has found other economic activities to occupy the community outside tourism. It used to be a destination where top African leaders, government functionaries and tourists from different parts of the world jostled to go to. Its annual fishing festival, the Argungu Fishing Festival, was a major pull for tourists from all over the world.
The only other tourism product that hitherto had such a pull in the North was the grand durbar in the Kano Emirate, Kano State. However, lack of political will, security challenges and consistency rubbed Argungu of its shine as the festival was put on hold.
The last Argungu festival was held ten years ago under the former governor of the state, Alhaji Sai’du Dakingari.
Ten years after the edition, the festival made a grand return to the ancient city of Argungu last week. This year’s edition was welcome with so much enthusiasm by thousands of participants who flocked to Argungu in search of fame and fortune through participation.
There was an atmosphere of festivity all over Argungu. The major streets of the town were filled with people. Some participants came almost a week to the grand finale. Most crowded areas like the Matan Fada Roundabout, through Kofar Tudu, thousands of fishermen from different states gathered for the festival.
Argungu International Fishing Festival is a traditional fishing festival involving thousands of fishermen who jump into the Matan Fada River in search of the biggest catch.
To many, it is a lifetime opportunity for fame and fortune and would go the extra miles to insure success. Some are ready to risk their lives, travelling hundreds of kilometres to participate. Ladan Manu came from Gomawa to participate.
He talked about the preparation: “I came yesterday, that is Friday. I came looking for fish to feed my family and possibly sell some.” Asked about the kind of preparation for the festival before coming, he said: “What you need to do is to buy the net and gourd.
You will come and wait. Between 8am and 9am, you will prepare and move to the river bank. “You will get a place and wait. When it is time, the trumpet would sound three times. Once you hear the first trumpet, you would stand and get ready.
You will still wait after the second trumpet, but once you hear the third trumpet, you will run as fast as possible to get to the river. You will then begin fishing. It is only Allah that gives.”
Manu said this edition was his fourth participation and had the opportunity to catch different species of fish. Before leaving my house to Argungu, I will fetch clean water and bath and pray to God and tell him I am on way and he should help me. I don’t engage in any other untoward practice.
Earlier, during his welcome address to at the agricultural show before the grand finale, the Emir of Argungu, Alhaji Samaila Mera, said: “ This festival has been held for 86 years. Your presence at this gathering today is of huge significance as it fills the gap which remained open since your first outing as the military head of state.
“Every head of the Federal Republic of Nigeria has, at one time or the other, witnessed the festival except you and the late General Murtala Muhammed. It has been ten years since this festival was last held because of numerous challenges which are too well known to be mentioned here. With the help of the federal and state governments, all stakeholders, all these challenges have been overcome.
“The festival has become a symbol of diverse people’s culture, tradition, aspiration and solidarity.”
The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, commended the festival for its richness and diversity. He said: “Yesterday, we saw this innovation, a water bicycle. That is technology. Mr. President came and we saw pyramid paddies, that is agriculture.
But one area that didn’t occur to me was the area of environment. I didn’t know that the people of Kebbi long before anybody started thinking about conservation, about environment, had been practising conservation and environmental wellness. Unknown to many of us, you cannot just jump into that river and fish. It is protected. You can only fish in them at a given time.”
The crowd of both visitors at this year’s event may pass as one of the largest the organisers may have seen. It was herculean making the stand close to a kilometre away from the river, behind the rice farms. The speaker was not loud enough to reach them.
It led to the participants jumping the gun to rush into the river before the main signal. The organisers were expecting all their VIP guests to come before the fishing competition, but the participants beat gun and rushed to the river at about 10:30am.
That was the little hiccup, but despite that, it was all excitement all the way as thousands probably about 30,000 fishermen rushed into the water in search of the biggest catch.
After hours in the freezing water, three persons came up with catches of 78 kg (Abubakar Yau), 75 kg (Bala Yahaya-Bagaye) and 70 kg (Maiwake Sani Salami) to emerge winners of this year’s event.
Many participants and visitors lauded the the Kebbi State government for bringing back the festival after 10 years. However, they believe that a lot of areas need to be improved upon.
For a popular festival that attracts thousands to the ancient town, it is rather surprising that there is no commercial accommodation facilities in Argungu. There are government chalets and guest houses. The Fishing Village also has some sub-standard housing facilities.
The government should make conscious effort to encourage investors to invest in hospitality. This has become important as the hotels will serve the agricultural mills that are now springing up in Argungu.
The organisers need to come out with a better plan for crowd and traffic management in and around the event venue. Too many people crowded the place making movement difficult. The security personnel that came with the invited VIPs, while trying to help control the crowd, made it worse.
