Gallery|Arts and CultureNigeria’s Argungu fishing contest returns after years of pauseTraditional fishing methods shine at Argungu’s iconic festival, preserving heritage and boosting local economy.

Thousands of fishermen gathered at the Matan Fadan River, a UNESCO heritage site, located in Argungu, northwestern Nigeria, for the annual fishing festival.

On Saturday, President Bola Tinubu attended the event, observing competitors using traditional fishing methods such as hand-woven nets and calabash gourds. The highlight of the competition was a 59kg croaker fish, which won the top prize for its catcher. Other participants engaged in selling their catch, contributing to the local economy.

The river remains closed for fishing throughout the year under the supervision of the Sarkin Ruwa, the water chief. This regulation ensures the sustainability of the fishing activities and the preservation of the site's cultural heritage.

Originating in 1934, the fishing festival symbolizes the peace between the Sokoto Caliphate and the Argungu emirate. It has been a continuous event until it was suspended in 2010 due to infrastructure issues and security concerns. The festival briefly resumed in 2020 and has now resumed again.

Nigeria continues to face security challenges, particularly in the northern regions. Despite these concerns, the festival's return is seen as a sign of restored stability and community pride. However, attendance has been affected, as noted by Hussein Mukwashe, the Sarkin Ruwa of Argungu, who highlighted the impact of ongoing security issues on event participation.

Based on reporting by Al Jazeera.