Fishing is more than a means of harvesting fish for food. It transcends being a simple livelihood that provides income, to being a way of life, a transboundary culture and a pride of generations. Fishing may be a habitual event, yet each trip is an adventure carrying captivating tales, some known and some untold. The diverse and multi-cultural dimensions of fishing in Africa deserves a brighter spotlight to project the embedded knowledge and creativity of this age-old tradition with the rest of the world. To set this historical expedition off the shores and around the AfriCan seas and waters, the first port of call would in north-west Nigeria, to learn about a long-standing fishing festival.
The Argungu Fishing Festival
The Argungu fishing festival is an annual four-day festival hosted in Kebbi State of Nigeria between the months of February and March. It is the culminating event as part of the Argungu International Fishing and Cultural festival, one of the popular cultural festivals in Nigeria. The fishing competition is patronized by thousands of men who compete to catch the largest fish from the Matan Fada River using traditional fishing tools or by hand. It has been reported that the largest prize fish, caught in the year 2005 weighed 75 kg and the winner could be awarded as much as USD 7,500. While the males participate in the contests, the females offer encouragement to them through their performances of singing and dancing. Other celebrations of the festival include canoe racing, wrestling, musical performances and craft displays.
The historical fishing festival, upheld since 1934 has been a medium for promoting unity through entertainment and cultural endurance in the local state. Furthermore, this festival typically displays the bravado and ingenuity characteristic of African fisherfolk who since time immemorial go to lengths to bring back their prize bounty – fish. The enthralling composition of the festival draws people from all over Nigeria and around the world, and is recognized by UNESCO as an intangible cultural heritage.
The Argungu fishing festival is one example among several AfriCan fishing traditions, emphasizing that old fishing methods are worth celebrating and sustained for upcoming generations. To find out more about the Argungu fishing festival featured in this piece, visit here or the UNESCO’s site here. Watch this space to find out which traditional fishing practice will be spotlighted in our next voyage.
Photo credits: Adeniyi Olagunju; the Scout Association of Nigeria