The 2026 Argungu International Fishing and Cultural Festival has commenced with a series of activities, including an investors’ summit, secondary school quiz competition, races, and colourful cultural and traditional displays.
Declaring the afternoon events open, the Speaker of the Kebbi State House of Assembly, Alhaji Muhammad Usman Zuru, described the festival’s return as a remarkable moment and commended Governor Nasir Idris for reviving the historic event after more than five years.
Zuru said the restoration of the festival deserved commendation, noting that the Emirate Council, as custodian of the cultural heritage, played a pivotal role in ensuring the success of the programme, with the Emir of Argungu, Alhaji Sama’ila Muhammad Mera, providing consistent leadership throughout the preparations.
He listed the afternoon activities to include camel, donkey, and horse races, archery, catapulting and an international polo tournament, adding that car, bicycle, and motorcycle races had earlier been flagged off in Abuja.
According to him, participants were drawn from within and outside Nigeria, with trophies and prizes to be awarded to winners from first to third positions, either in cash or kind.
Zuru described the 2026 edition as a symbol of unity and a successful revival of the festival, which had been suspended for several years. The event attracted a large turnout of Kebbi residents, government officials, and well-wishers from across the country and beyond.
The festival brought together Nigerians of diverse ethnic, cultural, religious, political, and social backgrounds, creating an atmosphere of harmony as attendees enjoyed Kebbi’s famed hospitality and admired the rich artistic displays that define the Argungu heritage.
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