He has a hand of gold with strength to catch fishes. At the just concluded Argungu International Fishing and Cultural Festival, Mallam Bello Yao emerged best fisherman after catching a 65. 95 kg fish in less than 20 minutes after the take-off of the fishing competition. He led other fishermen in the fishing game and had his life transformed from grass to grace.

Like the festival, which started in 1934 as a modest peace mission by the Sultan to Argungu and later transformed into a global ritual, Yao too stepped into fame and prosperity at the 2008 festival from his poor, peasant background in Argungu. He thus typified the essence of the festival, which rose from a humble communal expedition into a grand occasion for thousands of indigenes and visitors across the globe.

However, Yao’s success during the festival was trailed by controversy few days after receiving his prizes worth over N20million. The Emir of Argungu, Alhaji Samaila Moh’d Mera had reportedly promised to investigate the allegation that Yao must have planted a dead fish inside the river shortly before the commencement of the festival.

Meanwhile, this year’s edition of the festival opened on a colourful note on Wednesday March 12, with the commissioning of the Fishing House donated by the Nigeria Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC). Prince Adetokunbo Kayode, Minister of Culture, Tourism and National Orientation who represented President Umaru Yar’dua at the event described the festival as a unifying force for the people as well as platform to celebrate the rich culture of Kebbi indigenes. Kayode who commended the NTDC for its initiative also urged that it was time the festival got repackaged to attract revenue in accordance with the seven-point agenda of the Federal Government.

At the formal opening of the festival held at Argungu Fishing Hotel, the minister again reiterated government’s commitment to cultural propagation and promotion through 12 national festivals including the Argungu. He hinted that part of the efforts of his ministry is to key in into government’s economic agenda using the cultural platform. Other stakeholders such as Alhaji Munzali Dantata and Conrad Clifford, MD of Virgin Atlantic Airlines underscored the socio-cultural and economic significance of the festival even as they listed other avenues through which the festival could attract international audience and patronage.

On Thursday March 13, the agricultural and food fair held simultaneously in the central part of the town and participants had a swell time savouring many species and sceneries. There was also the animal skinning game, which was graced by dignitaries such as the Kebbi State governor, Alhaji Usman Saidu Dakin Gari, Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa-ad Abubakar, Emir of Argungu as well as Alhaji Sarkin Kabbin and Senator Umar Abubakar Argungu.

The entire Argungu town was thrown into festivity as traders, youths and children took to the streets to witness numerous cultural and economic activities around the town. There were as many magicians; jesters as there were drummers, dramatists and singers who entertained tourists in various forms. But the festival venues and locations were elaborately decorated by the MTN such that the telecom giant’s mission of uniting people through cultural festivals became palpable.

Friday, March 14, was dedicated to both the water competition (Kabanchi) and the Durbar (sponsored by MTN). The competition which opened at the riverside featured such interesting games as Boys Bore Hand Fishing, Two-men canoe race, Men swimming with pots, Men blind folded swimming, Wild Duck catching and Diving (Shako). However, much as the various competitions went on smoothly, the overzealous security men, particularly the local guards who appeared in red and green Babarigas almost turned the venue to a battlefield as they chased hundreds of tourists and a few journalists with sticks. The same exuberance was displayed at both the Durbar where a journalist was actually flogged by one the local security men.

In reaction to this, some of the tourists argued that while the huge presence of policemen was a welcome idea, the inclusion of the local guards was counter productive as many guests and tourists were embarrassed beyond expectation. Some observers also counseled on the timing of the events, noting that the dignitaries usually arrived at the venues late at the expense of expectant tourists.

For example, at the grand finale of the festival on Saturday, thousands of the competing fishermen became restless at about 11.30am when they eventually ran into the river without many of the dignitaries in attendance. All efforts by the security team to stop the stampede failed. But Garba Ahmani, Kebbi State commissioner for Information and Culture promised that efforts would be made to avoid such a stampede in subsequent editions of the festival. Nevertheless, he hinted that having prepared for the competition for close to two days, the fishermen could not have resisted the stampede as each of them was set to beat other competitors.

On Friday, March 14, Otunba Segun Runsewe, Director General of the Nigeria Tourism Development Corporation was installed Dan Buram of Argungu in the emir’s palace. The ceremony was graced by top traditional rulers such as the Sultan of Sokoto, Tor Tiv from Benue State, the Elerin of Erinle from Kwara State, the Emir of Argungu and a host of others. Following this was the Durbar, a ceremonial procession of 97 horsemen who were also interspersed by women in diverse colourful costumes.

The Durbar was an interesting spectacle during which horsemen displayed their prowess in cultural splendour. A significant aspect of the show was the unique way in which each local government or identified group represented itself with distinct decorations, accessories, props and costumes.
The final segment of the festival was unique both in content and in audience participation. Well before the arrival of dignitaries, all the segments of the river had been covered up by crowd many of who could only be viewed from a distance.

The main event started about 11.30am when the competitors seemingly became apprehensive of the unconventional delay. They simply rushed to the river in thousands to commence the game. At the end of the competition, which lasted barely forty minutes, winners were announced and prizes awarded in diverse categories.

Out of the list of winners, the following fishermen were outstanding; Bello Yao, first prize with 65.95 kg fish; Sanni Tungazagamar, second prize 43.25 kg fish and Abdullahi Gumi; third prize, 38.12 kg fish.
The Argungu International Fishing and Cultural Festival started formally in 1934 with the historic visit of Sarkin Musulmi Sultan Hassan Dan Mua’zu of Sokoto. This was in response to an earlier invitation by the then Emir of Argungu, Muhammadu Sama to the Sultan who had just been appointed.

In anticipation of the visit, the emir and his council decided to arrange a grand fishing exhibition as a momentous symbol of the Kabawa identity. Earlier, the emir and his officials had felt that local entertainment and feats of manhood like boxing and wrestling would not be suitable to welcome a whole Sultan. So they settled for a water-craft to portray the hospitality and dominant culture of the Kebbi people. And since the memorable visit of Sultan Mua’zu, the festival has since attracted local and international tourists, while successive governments have also supported it as a major socio-cultural and tourist-based ritual.