DLC Blog

Really Big Fish

The Argungu Fishing Festival, held in the north-western Nigerian state of Kebbi, is the culmination of a four-day cultural event. Thousands of fishermen come for the event, in which they have only one hour to catch the largest fish using traditional nets and gourds. The fishing festival takes place to the beat of drummers who move through the water on their canoes.

The fishermen only come to the river once per year, on the day of the festival. The prize for catching the largest fish is a brand new bus and one million naira (approximately $7,500). The festival has been growing steadily in size and popularity – some fishermen had to struggle to find space to enter the water. This year’s prize-winning fish weighed in at 165 lbs.

The festival began in 1934 to celebrate and solidify peace between the former Sokoto Caliphate and the Kebbi Kingdom. These two powers had a long history of conflict, finally brought to an end by the arrival of the British.

The Kebbi Kingdom has been strengthening Islamic law in recent years, which prohibited women from entering in the event. The women in the photo above are in the Argungu market, not allowed to participate in the festival.

Many important dignitaries attended the event, including Nigerian President Obasanjo, the guest of honor. The sultan of Sokoto and his entourage also attended. While infrastructure is still poorly developed, many hope that the festival will spur growth in Nigeria’s nearly non-existent tourist industry.

For more pictures and information, click here for the complete BBC article.

Lindsey Aakre
Student Mentor - French

Posted by Lindsey at August 16, 2005 02:21 PM in Social Studies.