Each year, the Argungu International Fishing and Cultural Festival is held near the Matan Fada River in Nigeria's northwest region as part of the Argungu International Fishing Festival.
This four-day festival, which takes place between the middle of February and the beginning of March, features Kabanci, a series of water competitions such as hand fishing, canoe racing, and wild duck catching, as well as traditional practices such as local wrestling and boxing. Men and boys take part in the contests, while women encourage them by performing songs and dancing.
There are over 50,000 fishermen from northern Nigeria and surrounding countries who participate in the fishing competitions annually. Although women are not allowed to compete in fishing games, they are included in the drummers' group. The drums are made of cow skin, and they have traditional Kebbawa designs.
The festival began in 1934, to mark the end of hostilities between the Kebbi Kingdom and Sokoto Caliphate. The Festival, which has existed since before Nigeria gained independence and is considered an essential contributor to participants' sense of belonging and a way of maintaining peace through the sharing of cultural practices.
In preparation the river's custodian 'Sarkin Ruwa' performs sacrifices with the river oracle to ensure the river is safe. The Matan Fada River is a source of pride for the Argungu people. It is about 50 meters wide and about 50 feet deep. It also serves as a source of food and irrigation for their farmland. There can be fish weighing up to 75 kilograms in the Mata Fadan river. The fisherman who catches the largest fish wins the fishing competition.
During the festival, Sarkin Ruwa (who oversees the river's sanitation levels) and Homa (chief of the Argungu fishermen) provide knowledge of the river's water quality and fish stocks to their chieftaincy-holding families. This knowledge is an essential factor in the festival's continuation. It is traditionally believed that festivals allow children to experience festival activities and learn their associated skills on both a formal as well as informal level.
There are several ways to obtain training, such as apprenticeships, particularly in the case of cultivating specific fishing techniques or demonstrations within a family. Though the hype and vibe have diminished over the years, its main purpose is still achieved; fishing and unity.