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… says 30,000 fishermen to storm 2026 Argungu festival
From Olanrewaju Lawal, Birnin Kebbi
The Emir of Argungu, Alhaji Muhammad Samaila Mera has urged Nigerians to learn from the historical reconciliation, peaceful deal and wounds amendment between Kabi Kingdom and Sokoto caliphate,which led to the establishment of Argungu Fishing festival 500 years ago.
Mera, who stated this while speaking with newsmen after a meeting with the 24 sub- committee inaugurated by the Kebbi State Government in Birnin Kebbi, noted that what led to the festival was more important than the festivity of the fishing itself.
He disclosed that the Kebbi State Governor, Dr. Nasir Idris has approved 11th to 14th of February 2026 for the hosting of the UNESCO’s recognized fishing festival.
While speaking on the lesson behind the ancient festival, Mera said: “Its has been a traditional event for Kabi kingdom which is over 500 years today. But it’s became an international event when the Sultan of Sokoto paid a visit, Sadam Muazu in 1934. It was the first time it was staged to welcome a distinguished dignity from foreign Land.
” So, Sultan of Sokoto, whose ancestors have been at war with Kabi Kingdom for closed to 100 years suddenly came to Kabi Kingdom on a peaceful mission. That peaceful visit marked the end of hostility between Kabi Kingdom and Sokoto Caliphate.
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“The British who were around at that time, noticed that, and they encouraged it to be open every year until peace prevail between the two sides and we started inter – marriages. And in 1970 after the civil war, when Nigeria were trying to reconcile among Nigerians, they looked around for things to be used to rehabilitate and reconcile Nigerians. The leadership then looked at the antecedent of the Argungu Fishing festival and they realized that this event was used to seal wounds of over 100 years old.
“They decided to be using it to be bringing Nigerians from the North, and Eastern parts of the country together. So, they invited our fishermen from the Eastern part of Nigeria, swimmers, divers , in all events that were held in the festival and they participated side by side in the festival with their counterparts across the federation especially those from the North and its went successful. Nobody was killed because we were just coming out from the Civil war.
” The following year, it was staged again and finally, the Federal Government decided to build a village in Argungu to be hosting a fishermen from South-East of Nigeria who are to be partake in the festival annually to further cement the peace and reconciliation that had been earlier initiated after the civil.
“So, when we apply to UNESCO, we told them the history behind the festival, it was a big argument which we won at the end of the day with various studies conducted by students of universities.
” So, it is a great and important festival. And I think, anything that could be used to heal the wounds and reconcile warring people, it is something we must encourage and continue to celebrate and remind our people about it. It is not about catching fish, there is history behind it and that history is what we should keep alive and continue to reconcile our people “, he said.
Mera earlier appealed to the State Government and the sub- committee to ensure that, there are strong measure on ground to control over 30,000 fishermen who are going to participate in the event,security and proper guiding of the final arena to allow dignitary to witness the final event.
He disclosed that 500 village Heads under Argungu Emirates would be mobilized too to control the crowd and the fishermen during the event.
In his reaction, the Deputy Governor of Kebbi State, Senator Umar Abubakar assured the Emir that the state government would do everything to ensure the successful hosting of the event and urged the dub- committee he earlier inaugurated to swing into action immediately.
