Arugungu Fishing Festival

Festival Location: Arugungu, Nigeria

Festival Type(s): Fishing Tournaments, Harvest Festivals, Local Festivals

by © Paul Dodson 2009

If by chance you're ever in Nigeria's Arugungu neck of the woods around February or March make sure you pay the Arugungu Fishing Festival a visit.

What began as a tribute to the late Sultan Dan Mu'azu upon his visit in 1934 has not only endured but also grown to become the region's largest tourist attraction.

Each year a one-mile stretch of the Arugungu (pronounced "ar-goon-goo") River is protected from fishing so as to ensure a plenteous bounty for this major local festival.

For 45 minutes thousands of local men and boys armed only with hand net and gourd are let loose on the local aquatic population. They are joined by drummers in canoes and men rattling huge seed-filled gourds to drive the fish to shallow waters.

Nile Perch weighing over 60 kilogram have been taken from the river during the festival with the larger catches being offered to the local Emirs who organise the festivities.

Other events on the day include canoe races, diving competitions, wild duck hunting, swimming and wrestling contests, local arts and crafts displays and traditional music and entertainment.