Argungu Fishing Festival

Event Overview

The Argungu International Fishing and Cultural Festival is a massive, highly anticipated four-day event in Kebbi State. The festival traces its roots back to 1934, when it was inaugurated to mark the end of centuries-old hostilities between the Sokoto Caliphate and the Kebbi Kingdom. Today, it has grown into a major international tourist attraction that celebrates the agricultural and aquatic prosperity of the region.

The absolute spectacle of the festival occurs on the final day along the banks of the Matan Fada river. At the sound of a ceremonial gunshot, over 30,000 fishermen, armed only with traditional hand-woven nets (homa) and large gourds, plunge simultaneously into the muddy waters. The river instantly becomes a chaotic, thrilling frenzy of splashing water and cheering spectators as the men compete to catch the largest fish, typically massive Nile Perch that can weigh upwards of 70 kilograms.

Beyond the fishing competition, the festival is a multi-faceted cultural jamboree featuring wild duck catching, bare-hand fishing, local wrestling (Kokawa), agricultural exhibitions, and pulsating traditional music. It is a true celebration of life and sustenance in the riverine savannah.