Micah Jonah, February 15, 2026
Thousands of fishermen converged on the milky waters of the Matan Fada river, a UNESCO heritage site, winding through the verdant landscape of northwestern Nigeria’s Argungu.
President Bola Tinubu joined spectators on Saturday to cheer competitors vying to catch the largest fish, despite security concerns that deterred some attendees.
Participants employed only traditional methods, including hand-woven nets and calabash gourds, with some using bare hands. The Kebbi State waterway teemed with canoes and woven nets as fishermen waded through the river.
This year’s champion landed a 59kg croaker fish, won a cash prize, while other participants sold their catch, stimulating the local economy.
The river remains closed throughout the year, overseen by a titled authority known as Sarkin Ruwa, the water chief.
The fishing contest marked the pinnacle of the annual international fishing festival, which also showcased cultural displays, including traditional wrestling and musical performances.
“I thank God that I got something to take home to my family to eat. I am very happy that I came,” Aliyu Muhammadu, a 63-year-old fisherman, told newsmen.
The festival originated in 1934, marking peace between the extensive Sokoto Caliphate and the previously resistant Argungu emirate.
Considered a symbol of unity, the festival ran continuously for decades until 2010, when infrastructure problems and insecurity forced its suspension. It briefly resumed in 2020 before pausing again until this year.
Thousands of participants, including some women and children, braved the scorching 39C heat. Fishermen from neighbouring West African countries, including Niger, Chad, and Togo, also joined the competition.
Local fisherman Abubakar Usman made headlines with his 59kg catch, earning two saloon cars and a cash prize of 1 million naira. Hundreds of smaller catches were sold at a temporary market near the festival arena.
Sarkin Ruwa, guardian of the Matan Fada, inspired fishermen during the competition, ensuring the river’s traditions were observed.
