Argungu Fishing Festival, Kebbi – 12-15 March 2008

Spectacular!

Abuja is a layover on the flight from Lagos to Sokoto, so our Friday morning flight was easy but definitely full. On board we met a team from the BBC's 'Blue Peter' program as well as 16 representatives of the Lagos NFS branch. NFS-Lagos had managed a bus to take them to Birnin Kebbi, while our bus fell through and instead we packed into two cars for our transport.

Everything was arranged for us in the end by a work colleague of one of our group, including our stay at the “5 Star Giginya Hotel” (“5 Star” being part of the name, not a rating) in Sokoto. After checking in and dropping our bags, we headed to Argungu for reconnaissance. We explored the site on the river where everything would be happening the next day – one of our younger members enjoying a quick swim - and then found our way to a local fairgrounds where the majority of the festival appeared to be going on. We wandered around a short while, then were pleasantly surprised to find a huge Durbar (parade) forming before us...

For some, we provided the most interesting entertainment!

Eventually  the sun  began to go down and we had to return to Sokoto for the night.  The next morning was an early departure to ensure getting good seats - we were successful, but then the organizers came and asked us to move to the places reserved for 'foreign dignitaries'.  Indeed they were nicer seats, and everywhere people were making an effort to provide a good experience for those of us who could be recognized as tourists. 

Waiting at the starting line

One of these things is not like the other ones....

The competition begins.

Caught during the competition - sorry, has to be a fish!  Perhaps swimming here the day before wasn't such a brilliant idea....	The finish line?  See the news follow-ups below!

Afterwards we enjoyed an afternoon of shopping and site-seeing around Sokoto.  Next day we went to the airport extra early expecting an over-booked flight.  When we asked if everyone was going to make it on the flight, we were assured that they would -- "and if not, they can fly tomorrow..."

News follow-ups:

BBC News 17 March
BBC News 20 March
Museum of Hoaxes 20 March also here.
Daily Sun 26 March

Historical:

From  http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/picture_gallery/05/africa_fishing_festival/html/1.stm

“Race to fish" 

The Argungu Fishing Festival is the culmination of a four-day cultural event in the north-western Nigerian state of Kebbi.
Thousands of fishermen line up like an ancient army, carrying their traditional nets and gourds.
At the sound of a gun, they pound towards the narrow river and leap into the water.
They have just one hour to catch the biggest fish. “

See also:  http://allafrica.com/stories/200802080178.html

Join me, Rob, my wife Jane, and our kids for this spectacle!  Details still being worked out.

I've collected some more information on the trip to the Argungu Fishing Festival, as follows.

book and purchase tickets to fly to Sokoto on Friday the 14th March and return on
Sunday the 16th March. The Virgin Nigeria person at Ceddi Plaza wasn't willing to give me a firm number on how many more seats are available, but was definite that we could get 20 more people onboard Friday without a problem. On checking the Sunday return flight she indicated that 20 seats are still available "but they should book soon". Virgin Nigeria flights can be booked online from http://www.virginnigeria.com/en/ng/booking.shtml. The price for adults is NGN 26,636.00 each, children under 12 NGN 13,318.00 each. The web booking holds your reservation for 48hrs, but it is not guaranteed until you pay for the tickets. Payment was fast and simple downstairs at Ceddi Plaza.

From the map it looks like a hard day's driving on Friday would do it.  I also spoke with someone over the weekend who had made the drive from Abuja in about 8 hours with a driver -- the only issue being that it was boring.  However there is the 'Argungu International Motor Rally' taking off from Eagle Square, Abuja on the Thursday morning -- and they don't appear to arrive until Friday evening. (This doesn't fit in well with my kids' school requirements, but I am certain it would be an entertaining journey :-)


I hope you will be 'up for it' as well and join us for the trip. Please be clear however that we still have NO PLAN AS YET for travel to/from Argungu for the festival nor any accommodation. We will continue to work on these areas and look for a group solution, but please contact me ASAP with your level of seriousness for attending so that I will know how many places are required. So far we have expectations based on guidebooks and personal reports that cars with drivers and hotel rooms will be available in Sokoto, and an e-mail promise for someone involved with the organising committee to get back in touch with me on these issues.  One of the more intriguing ideas for accommodation would be the "many chalets and tents ... erected for tourists' use during the festival," however it may be that these are reserved for special guests and dignitaries, and furthermore http://allafrica.com/stories/200802200334.html laments as of 20 Feb "that renovations was at a zero level, contrary to previous years when months before the time all necessary arrangements would have been completed."

The latest on the fishing festival trip is that we've made use of a few contacts and have come up with one or two guides and a 16-seater bus taking us to/from Sokoto on the day of the festival. Still have to finalise on the accommodation, but that just needs final numbers as far as I can tell. So, if you're planning to come as part of the NFS contingent (and not already tied in to the World Bank or DFID contingents), please send an e-mail now so we can get a headcount!

That's the extent of what I've worked out so far, and am told there's 'a fair few' people expressing interest in response to another friend's investigations
on the subject.

In 2005 the event drew "in excess of two million" attendees, while in 2006 the fishing part was postponed until December and in 2007 "the hosting plans had to be aborted at the last minute".

Here are some links:

schedule and other good stuff:
http://www.kebbistate.com/news.php?t=68&art=445

kebbistate site collected articles on festival:
http://www.kebbistate.com/news.php?t=68

NFS Lagos trip report from 2005 (they flew ADC to Sokoto and booked a bus and hotel)
http://www.nigerianfield.org/lagos_files/reports2005-argungu.htm

Cheers,

Rob.

Maximum number of attendees: 

Open

Rating: 

Moderate

Security: 

See your security officer

Gear:  

To be determined.

Costs: 

Round trip air, Virgin Nigeria N26,636 (kids ½)

Or driving 4 tanks of petrol

Accommodations:  Count on N10,000 per night, 2 nights

Food

Sundries

Timing:   

Leave Friday, 14 March

Attend festival Saturday, 15 March

Return Abuja Sunday, 16 March

Directions:  

Upon registration.

Contact Info:   

Rob (rob at janerob dot com)

Please include the following details:

-       Your name and the names of all others traveling with you

-       Your phone numbers

-       Whether you’re driving:  How many extra seats will you have available in your car / how many seats will you require in someone else’s car

-       Or Flying