Argungu Fishing Festival

festival, annual event, sports competition
Part of	cultural event
Inception	1934
Sport	fishing
Continent	Africa
Kontri	Naija
Located in the administrative territorial entity	Kebbi state
Location	Argungu
Coordinate location	12°44′55″N 4°32′18″E
Intangible cultural heritage status	Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity
Described at URL	https://ich.unesco.org/en/RL/00901, https://ich.unesco.org/fr/RL/00901, https://ich.unesco.org/es/RL/00901

The Argungu Fishing Festival wey dem dey also call Argungu Dance Festival na one festival inside Kebbi state plus including oda northern states like Niger for north-western part of Northern Nigeria. The region dey blessed with fertile river areas plus plenty irrigation and orchards. Majority of fishermen wey dey here be followers of Islam and farmers. Na Kanta Museum bi di main di main historical centre for Argungu for visitors wey dey travel from all over the world to see Argungu festival wey dem dey celebrate for four days in a year to promote fishing and unity.

Histri

Di festival wey dem dey take mark di beginning of fishing season for Argungu begin for 1934 to take mark di end of one hundred year war wey bin dey bitwin di Sokoto Caliphate and di Kebbi Kingdom. Dis festival wey dem dey celebrate between February and March every year na him don bring correct progress plus development to the states. each every year.

for 2005, di fish wey win di competition bin weigh 75kg and big so tey na four men fit carry am put for scale. For 2006,di festival bin ban fishing on top safety concern for low water levels. As di festival dey important reach to the economy of the state, the government bin ban di use of gill and cast nets make dem take conserve fish stock. The Zauro polder project, wey bi one irrigation scheme on top Rima River floodplain wey dey south of Argungu, na him dem don criticize sake of say the reservoir wan flood di traditional site wia dem dey do di festival.

Activities

Craft showcase
Canoe race
Agricultural showcase
Cultural activities
Wrestling matches
Musical performances
Fishing competition
Swimming contest

Competition

Na di last day of di festival dem dey do competition where thousands of men go line up along di riverside, jump inside the river as dem hear the sound of gunshot come begin fish to see who go catch di biggest fish inside one hour. Di winner fit collect money wey reach $7,500 US dollars. Na only traditional fishing tools dem Competitors fit use and many people even like to catch fish with ordinary hand to show say dem sabi.

Di person wey catch the biggest fish for 2020 Argungu Fishing Festival wey weigh around 78 kilograms na him dem give N10 million, two new cars plus two Hajj seats. Di person wey dey second and third position self get gifts. Na Over 50,000 fishermen dey participate for this yearly festival for Kebbi State and na di person wey catch the biggest fish be di winner. The President of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari bin attend the 60th edition of Argungu Fishing Festival for 2020 after dem don stop am for 10years.