Nigeria’s Century-Old Celebration of Unity and Culture
What is the Argungu Festival?
Photo Credit: Emmanuel Osodi/Anadolu via Getty Images
The Argungu Fishing Festival is one of Nigeria’s oldest and most iconic cultural celebrations. It is centered around a massive fishing competition in Argungu, a historic town in Kebbi State, where thousands of fishermen rush into the Matan Fada River to catch the largest fish using only traditional tools; no modern fishing gear is allowed.
Origin and History
Photos By: Jaekel, Francis. - Jaekel, Francis (1997)
The festival, which was initiated by Muhammad Sama, the traditional ruler of Argungu, dates back to 1934. It was created to celebrate peaceful relations between the Sokoto Caliphate and the Argungu Emirate after a long period of conflict in the region. In the early years, it was a regional affair, but by the 1970s it began drawing national attention. Heads of state, including the first powerful supporter Ahmadu Bello, who was the Sardauna of Sokoto, endorsed it, and over time it grew into one of Africa’s most internationally recognized festivals.
In 2016, the festival was added to the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
Traditions and Rituals: How It Works
In the days leading up to the fishing competition, the community comes alive with processions, drumming, traditional wrestling, dancing, and ceremonial displays of local crafts. During this time, the traditional guardian known as the Sarkin Ruwa (Chief of Water) performs rites and blessings at the river to invite fish into the waters and ensure safety for participants.
Photo of a Sarkin Ruwa sitting on a raft
The Fishing Contest and the Six-Year Hiatus
On the final day, at the sound of a gunshot, tens of thousands of fishermen, and often women too, dive into the shallow Matan Fada River. They hunt for the biggest fish using only traditional tools: hand-woven nets, calabash gourds, and bare hands.
Men in canoes drum loudly while others shake large gourds filled with seeds to push fish toward the competitors. The contest typically lasts around an hour, after which the fish are weighed, and the largest earns the top prize.
In 2020, the largest catch ever recorded weighed 78 kg, and he was awarded N10 million, two new cars, and two seats for a Hajj trip.
Photo Credit: PIUS UTOMI EKPEI / AFP
Top winners typically receive cash prizes running into eight figures, vehicles, farming equipment, and other rewards. Meanwhile, smaller fish caught during the contest are sold in markets around the river, with the opportunity for vendors to sell to top officials and wealthy visitors who attend the festival.
However, shortly after the 2020 celebration, the festival was suspended due to regional insecurity in communities around Sokoto and Kebbi States, ushering in a six-year pause before its eventual return.
The 2026 Comeback
In February 2026, after the six-year hiatus, the 61st Argungu Fishing Festival finally returned in grand style in Argungu, Kebbi State. Thousands of fishermen participated under the watchful eyes of spectators, including Nigeria’s president, despite ongoing security concerns that kept some visitors away.
The biggest fish of the day weighed 59 kg, caught by Abubakar Usman from Maiyama, and he was awarded two Toyota vehicles donated by the Sokoto State Government, bags of WACOT rice, and a cash prize of ₦1 million by the Kebbi State Government.
Image of the biggest catch being weighed.
The 2026 edition was more than a cultural resurgence but more of a symbol of peace between the Argungu and neighboring Sokoto community. As it pointed to an end to the communal conflicts and attacks that had plagued that area for a while.
