The Argungu Fishing Festival Is Back and Here Are 5 Things to Know Ahead of February
It has been 5 years as a result of Argungu Fishing Festival final held in 2020, and its upcoming return is already drawing attention. Scheduled to occur from February 11 to 14 in Kebbi Affirm, the festival brings support a cultural gathering that has lengthy been tied to tradition, neighborhood, and on a regular basis life in Argungu.
As preparations continue sooner than this year’s edition, right here are about a necessary issues to know in regards to the Argungu Fishing Competition and why it remains one of Nigeria’s most fascinating cultural occasions.
The festival and what it represents
The Argungu Fishing Competition began in 1934 and used to be launched as a peace initiative after years of hostility between the Sokoto Caliphate space and the Kebbi Kingdom. Over time, the festival grew staunch into a indispensable cultural gathering connected to cohesion and shared historical past. Lengthy after the battle ended, it has persisted to protect cultural significance for the folk of Argungu and Kebbi Affirm.
Why the festival takes put in February
When it’s held, the Argungu Fishing Competition in most cases takes put in February, a interval that aligns with the pause of the farming season and the foundation of the fishing season. This timing displays the way in which of residing of the folk of the narrate, the set farming and fishing play a vital feature. The festival furthermore helps protect traditions linked to the river and its divulge.
The River Sacrifice
Earlier than the fishing competition begins, a primitive ritual is performed to survey permission from the river. This accountability lies with the Sarkin Ruwa, who carries out sacrifices sooner than the festival. Till this process is completed, fishing within the Mata Fadan River is now no longer allowed, as the ritual signals that the river is ready for the competition.
Sarkin Ruwa and his feature
The Sarkin Ruwa is the primitive custodian of the Mata Fadan River, a feature handed down by generations. Past performing the river sacrifice, he’s furthermore accountable for making certain the river is real for participants. In accordance with cultural belief, this entails defending crocodiles away and calling fish from rivers linked to Mata Fadan sooner than the fishing contest.
Mata Fadan River and the fishing contest
The indispensable match of the festival takes put on the Mata Fadan River, the set thousands of fishermen derive for the competition. On the sound of a gunshot, they enter the water the divulge of fishing nets and primitive calabashes looking out for the supreme acquire. Because the contest begins, primitive Kebbawa drummers comprise the air with rhythm. Girls accomplish now no longer rob fragment within the fishing itself, nonetheless they play an active feature as participants of the drumming teams. The fisherman who catches the supreme fish is rewarded, with one of the supreme recorded catches weighing up to seventy 5 kilograms.
