US EditionOver 50,000 Fishermen Begin Argungu Festival Contest Before President Arrives
More than 50,000 fishermen started the contest early using traditional methods at the UNESCO heritage site, despite security concerns and delayed arrival of dignitaries.
- More than 50,000 fishermen surged into the Matan Fada River in Argungu on Saturday, hours before President Bola Ahmed Tinubu was expected at the grand finale.
- Some competitors had reportedly been waiting since 5 am, disrupting the planned Argungu Festival contest after early entry, despite organisers' schedule.
- Competitors used traditional angling techniques with hand-woven nets and calabash gourds, while this year's winner caught a croaker fish weighing 59 kilograms.
- Unable to contain the surge, security officials said the contest proceeded before President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Kebbi State Governor Nasir Idris, and other dignitaries arrived by 12:45 pm.
- The 61st edition attracted participants and tourists from Nigeria and neighbouring countries, with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu saying it signals a return to stability amid Nigeria's north security crisis.
19 Articles
19 Articles
Santa Maria Times
Thousands of fishermen came on Saturday to the milky waters of the Matan Fadan River, a site that was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO and winds through lush vegetation in the town of Argungu, in the northwest of...
Associated Press News
A Nigerian fishing festival returns to the joy of the community, despite setbacks
Thousands of fishermen have descended on the Matan Fadan river, a UNESCO heritage site that snakes through lush vegetation in the village of Argungu in Nigeria’s northwest.
Argungu Festival: Eager fishermen jump into river before President arrives
More than 50,000 fishermen surged into the Matan Fada River in Argungu on Saturday, hours before President Bola Ahmed Tinubu was expected at the grand finale of the 2026 Argungu International Fishing and Cultural Festival. The excited fishermen, dressed in traditional attire and carrying nets and calabashes, entered the river ahead of the official start of the competition. Their early rush disrupted the planned ceremony, as organisers had antici…
Historic Argungu Fishing Festival Returns After Six-Year Hiatus
Ghazali Ibrahim The 61st Argungu International Fishing and Cultural Festival was held this weekend, marking a celebrated return of the iconic event after it had not taken place for six years due to insecurity and other challenges. The festival was last staged in 2020 before a prolonged pause that kept it off the calendar until this year’s revival. PC: Dewunmilagos The annual celebration, held on the banks of the UNESCO-listed Matan Fada River, s…
Argungu Festival Showcases Nigeria’s Cultural Heritage – President Tinubu - Voice of Nigeria Broadcasting Service
Nigeria’s President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has described the Argungu International Fishing and Cultural Festival as a powerful symbol of unity, resilience and peaceful coexistence that projects the country’s cultural heritage in a positive light to the rest of the world. Speaking at the grand finale of the festival in Argungu, Kebbi State, the President said the annual celebration not only showcases the people’s cultural heritage but also highlights …
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