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With their nets at the ready, tens of thousands of fishermen were poised to take part in a traditional festival in northern Nigeria last weekend after a six-year break due to Covid and security concerns.<\/p>\n
The drummers beat out the traditional rhythm of the Kabawa people as the Sarkin Ruwan, or custodian of the river, performed a ceremony before the competition could begin at this decades-old event.<\/p>\n\n\n[Sani Maikatanga]<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
Participants had been gathering since early in the morning.<\/p>\n\n\n[Sani Maikatanga]<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n[Sani Maikatanga]<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
They then began the sprint towards the Matan Fada river, which is closed for the rest of the year to allow fish stocks to grow ahead of the festival.<\/p>\n\n\n[AFP via Getty Images]<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
With their nets flapping behind them, and carrying large gourds, they plunged into the water to take part in a contest that marked the culmination of four days of celebrations at the Argungu International Fishing and Cultural Festival, which this year was attended by President Bola Tinubu.<\/p>\n\n\n[AFP via Getty Images]<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
The fishermen waded through the water, which reached to their chins in parts, and dragged their nets along the bottom. The gourd was used as a buoyancy aid and a place to put the catch.<\/p>\n
The Sarkin Ruwan oversaw the competition from his canoe.<\/p>\n\n\n[AFP via Getty Images]<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
Once on dry land, the fish were handed to the judges, who hauled the enormous creatures onto the scales.<\/p>\n
The winner caught a giant croaker fish weighing 59kg (9st 2lb) and was awarded two new cars and 1m naira ($740; \u00a3550) in prize money.<\/p>\n
Other huge fish, like the one below, were also pulled out of the river but fell short of first place.<\/p>\n\n\n[AFP via Getty Images]<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
With roots stretching back a century, the festival formally began in 1934 as a way to cement peace between two previously warring sides – the Kebbi Kingdom, and the Sokoto Caliphate.<\/p>\n\n\n[Sani Maikatanga]<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
The Sarkin Ruwan, Alhaji Hussaini Makwashe, above, described Argungu as a place where people can share their love and celebrate the culture of this part of Nigeria.<\/p>\n\n\n[Anadolu via Getty Images]<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
The event, recognised by the UN’s cultural organisation, Unesco, now attracts tens of thousands of participants and spectators from Nigeria and neighbouring countries.<\/p>\n\n\n[Sani Maikatanga]<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
Ibrahim Gulma, above, said that it was the visitors from across Nigeria and elsewhere in the region who made Argungu special.<\/p>\n\n\n[Sani Maikatanga]<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
Dozens of other competitions took place in the build-up to the fishing challenge on the fourth day, including archery.<\/p>\n\n\n[Sani Maikatanga]<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
Traditional music and drumming also provided an accompaniment to the activities.<\/p>\n\n\n[Sani Maikatanga]<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n[Anadolu via Getty Images]<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
The traditional combat sport of dambe also attracted huge crowds.<\/p>\n\n\n[Reuters]<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
Fighters wrap ropes around their punching hand, named “the spear”, and block oncoming blows with the other, referred to as the “shield”.<\/p>\n\n\n[Reuters]<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
The aim is to knock out or knock down your adversary.<\/p>\n\n\n[Sani Maikatanga]<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
Back on the water, people competed in the wild duck-catching competition.<\/p>\n\n\n[Sani Maikatanga]<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
And younger girls got the chance to try their luck in bare-handed fishing.<\/p>\n\n\n[Sani Maikatanga]<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
Additional reporting by Damian Zane, Ayuba Iliya and Marco Oriunto<\/em><\/p>\n