Steemit Engagement Challenge Week 2 || Share your Country's Culture|| Entry by @lhorgic

It feels good to be part of this awesome contest once again. The topic of discussion is one that concerns all. I don't think there is anywhere in the world where there are no cultural practices. Culture as we all know is the way of life of people.

Nigeria is not exempted from this subject and for the sole purpose of this contest,I will be sharing with us the Popular Argungu cultural Festival celebrated yearly in the northern part of Nigeria,Kebbi state to be precise.

Argungu Festival.

Argungu festival is an annual fishing festival celebrated specifiacally in Kebbi state in the north-western part of Nigeria. It is usually celebrated for good four days.There are other side event and competitions that makes the festival colourful but the fishing competition is what everyone looks forward to. The fishing competition is done on the last day of the festival.

Historical Background

This festival started in 1934 and and it's celebrated between the month of February and March annually.The reason for this festival was to unite the then people of Sokoto and the Kebbi kingdom. There was a rift between them prior to that time. So you can say that the goal was to promote friendship,oneness and bond among the people which still exist even till today.

For this sole reason,the festival has brought alot of growth and development into that region. We all know that wherever there is disunity there can't be progress there. Another notable thing to mention is the quality and quantity of water they have in that region which makes it possible for the festival to hold. No one farms fish in shallow waters.

Tourist from all over Nigeria and neighbouring countries have been coming down since the advent of this event to see how the festival is being celebrated and I must say,they have never for once left with disappointment. It's also important to mention that this fishing aspect of this festival was banned due to low water and was later lifted in 2020.

In 2005,it was recorded that the fisherman with the largest fish caught a fish that weighed 75kg which practically weighs more than a bag of cement here in Nigeria 😀..

Other competition in the festival

Like I mentioned earlier,fishing is not the only competition in that festival since the festival is for four days. There are other competitions like;

• Canoe racing.

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• Agricultural Exhibition

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• Wrestling

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• Dance and music Perfomances

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How the fishing competition is done

Since the fishing competition is the center of attraction,fishermen all over the region are invited to come compete for the largest catch in the Matan Fada river. Any Fisher man with the largest catch is then rewarded handsomely. The last one held in 2020 was really mind blowing as the fisherman with the largest catch was rewarded with a sum of 10 Million naira and some other benefits.

Before the competition commences at all the river would have been appeased by the spiritual head who is also know as the Sarkin Ruwa,the custodian of the river, who would have carried out the proper rituals before the fishing festival.

Fishermen are not allowed to use any modern equipment to make their catch they can only use their local net and gourd. This is to preserve the cultural heritage.
To begin the competition,all the fishermen will line up at the bank of the river and then they are being signaled to go into the river for a big catch for just an hour.

Thay always go in their number searching for the fish that is most likely to change their life for good. Some fishermen who seem very skilled go into this river with bare hand looking for their biggest catch. After the whole fishing exercise, they are all assembled for assessment. The top three fishermen with the largest fish are then rewarded handsomely.

Conclusion

So much has been said concerning one of the most outstanding cultural festival in Africa. Coming down to Kebbi state Nigeria from whatever part you're in the world to witness the next Argungu fishing festival wouldn't be a bad idea.
Thank you so much for your time.
I would love to invite @niglys8 @dibie @ollabillions to join this contest.

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Best Regards
@lhorgic♥️