Tens of thousands of fishermen took part in a spectacular traditional festival in Northern Nigeria last weekend.
According to a report by the BBC, this festival has been revived after a six-year lapse due to the COVID-19 pandemic and security threats that have been plaguing the northern part of the country.
The report added that the festival features a competition in which a person who catches the biggest fish is declared winner.
Drummers beat out the traditional rhythm of the Kabawa people as the Sarkin Ruwan (custodian of the river) performed a ceremony before the competition could begin at this decades-old event. Participants had been gathering since early in the morning. They then began the sprint toward the Matan Fada River, which is closed for the rest of the year to allow fish stocks to grow ahead of the festival.
With their nets flapping behind them and carrying large gourds, they plunged into the water to take part in a contest that marked the culmination of four days of celebrations at the Argungu International Fishing and Cultural Festival, which was attended this year by President Bola Tinubu.
The fishermen waded through the water—which reached their chins in some parts—and dragged their nets along the bottom. The gourds were used as buoyancy aids and as containers for the catch.
Once on dry land, the fish were handed to the judges, who hauled the enormous creatures onto scales. The winner caught a giant croaker fish weighing 59kg (9st 2lb) and was awarded two new cars and 1 million naira ($740; £550) in prize money.
The event, recognized by the UN’s cultural organization, UNESCO, now attracts tens of thousands of participants and spectators from Nigeria and neighboring countries.
