Argungu Fishing Festival Returns to Nigeria with Tradition and a 59kg Champion

Argungu’s iconic fishing festival in Kebbi State returned after a multi-year pause, highlighting traditional hand nets and bare-handed fishing on the UNESCO-listed Matan Fada river as thousands gathered despite security concerns. The event, which began in 1934 and was revived with leadership from Sarkin Ruwa, culminated with a 59kg croaker win that earned the fisherman two new cars and 1 million naira, boosting the local economy and reaffirming cultural pride amid ongoing insecurity.