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Argungu Fishing Festival Returns After Six-Year Hiatus With 59-Kilogram Winning Catch

The UNESCO-listed celebration in Kebbi state signals renewed cultural pride after years of insecurity.

Fishermen wait for the start of the Argungu cultural fishing festival in Argungu, Kebbi , Northern Nigeria, Saturday, Feb.14, 2026. (AP Photo/Sunday Alamba)
A fishermen searches for fish during the Argungu cultural fishing festival in Argungu, Kebbi , Northern Nigeria, Saturday, Feb.14, 2026. (AP Photo/Sunday Alamba)
Fishermen search for fish during the Argungu cultural fishing festival in Argungu, Kebbi , Northern Nigeria, Saturday, Feb.14, 2026. (AP Photo/Sunday Alamba)

Overview

  • Thousands attended with President Bola Tinubu present as competitors relied on hand-woven nets, calabash gourds and bare hands.
  • Local fisherman Abubakar Usman landed a 59‑kilogram croaker to win two new cars and a 1 million naira cash prize.
  • Participants traveled from Niger, Chad and Togo, and hundreds of smaller catches were sold in a makeshift street market.
  • Organisers said the event returned after a six-year pause caused by regional insecurity and funding shortfalls.
  • Security concerns persist in Kebbi state, with analysts citing Lakurawa-linked violence, and campaign displays for national and state leaders were prominent around the venue.