Argungu

Argungu stands on the Matan Fada river in Kebbi, and its name is known across Nigeria for the fishing festival held there, in which at a signal thousands of men enter a stretch of river that has been closed to fishing for months and catch fish with hand nets and gourds, the largest fish winning the competition, in a mass of bodies and spray that is one of the most photographed events in the country. The festival dates in its present form to 1934 and has been held irregularly since, suspended for long periods and revived. Outside it, Argungu is a quiet town with an emir's palace and the Kanta museum in a nineteenth-century building.

History

The town was first known as Birnin Lelaba dan Badau, and its present name is said to come from a Kebbi fishing call, "a yi gungu", "let us gather in one place". After 1808 the rulers of the Hausa state of Kebbi settled here and founded a new emirate, which by the end of the 19th century was in practice independent (Wikipedia, Argungu).

Highlights

• The fishing festival - the mass entry into the river with hand nets.
• The Kanta museum - the local museum in an old building.
• The emir's palace - the compound in the town.
• The river - the Matan Fada stretch used for the competition.

When to go

The festival, when held, has usually fallen in February or March, but it has been suspended and revived repeatedly and dates are announced at short notice, so confirmation is essential. Outside it, November to March for the weather.

Things to know

The festival has been cancelled or postponed many times and should never be assumed. Outside it there is little to see and facilities are minimal. Festival crowds are enormous and accommodation nonexistent locally. Kebbi is a long journey from anywhere.

Nearby

Birnin Kebbi lies southwest; the Niger border is northwest.

Key facts