After 10 years suspension, Argungu Fishing Festival bounces back

After ten years suspension, the historic Argungu Festival Festival is set to bounce back between March 4 and 7 2020, the Emir of Argungu, Alhaji Samaria Mohammed Merra, said on Tuesday

According to him, the festival which was started to usher in peaceful coexistence between Sokoto and Kebbi after a long rift and ethnic hostilities which lasted for 100 years, was aimed at unifying Nigeria and promoting peaceful understanding amongst.

THE PUNCH reported that the Argungu Fishing Festival was suspended due to a combination of factors including insecurity, infrastructural decay of the facilities and inadequate water in River Matan Fada, venue of the event.

The Emir spoke in Abuja during a courtesy call on Otunba Segun Runsewe, Director-General of National Council for Arts and Culture, a parastatal of the Federal Ministry of Information and Culture, to seek partnership with the agency.

He said, “The Argungu Festival dates back to the 16th century. Its modern root dates back to 1934. It was the result of a century-old conflict between the Sultan of Sokoto and the people known as Kabawa who now occupy modern-day Kebbi. The event became a yearly event.”

The Emir also said that his Emirate was in collaboration with NCAC and UNESCO with the aim of returning it to its rightful place in the calendar of cultural events held in Nigeria.

Runsewe who said he was excited to be a part of the resuscitation AFF, said the value to be derived from the event coming back to life cannot be quantified in terms of economics as it serves as a unifying platform for Nigerians and those abroad.

He also stated that NCAC would be sponsoring quiz and essay competition for secondary school students during the festival.

Runsewe displayed several publicity and promotional materials specially prepared by NCAC to prosecute the 2020 edition of the festival.

He assured that the Fish House he built in 2010 would also be refurbished and remodelled.

"We will use Argungu to make a bold statement that indeed it is a festival that unites and we will continue to support it henceforth because it is arguably the number one in the country with UNESCO endorsement”, Runsewe said.

The NCAC DG also seized the moment to showcase the prototype of the cultural centre he planned to build in Argungu Emirate saying it was modelled after the best cultural centres in the world.

Speaking as a titled holder from Argungu Emirate, (Danburan Kebbi) Runsewe admitted that he was emotionally connected to AFF which, according to him, has a long history with rich cultural content that had remained unrivalled globally.