The 61st edition of the Argungu International Fishing and Cultural Festival is drawing renewed global attention to Nigeria’s largely untapped tourism potential.
The festival has attracted visitors from across Africa, Asia and beyond gather in North-western Nigeria for the historic celebration.
Held in Kebbi State, the annual festival has evolved from a local cultural event into an international attraction, positioning Nigeria as an emerging destination for heritage and eco-tourism on the African continent.
The festival traces its origins to 1934, when the late Hassan Dan Mu’azu, Sultan of Sokoto, paid a historic visit to Argungu, the first by a reigning Sultan.
To mark the occasion and promote unity between the people of Sokoto and Argungu, the then Emir of Argungu, Muhammadu Sama, organised a grand fishing competition in his honour.
That symbolic event laid the foundation for what has become one of West Africa’s most iconic cultural festivals.
More than seven decades later, the festival has grown in scale and international relevance, attracting tourists, cultural enthusiasts and investors eager to explore Nigeria’s heritage economy.
Among them is Mr. Tian Zhang from the People’s Republic of China, who described the festival as a major tourism asset capable of positioning Nigeria prominently on the global cultural tourism map.
He noted that, “with strategic promotion and infrastructure development, Argungu could rival established international festivals.”
Visitors from across Nigeria also echoed similar sentiments.
Idi Bulama from Bade Emirate in north-eastern Nigeria emphasised the need for expanded facilities, improved accommodation and enhanced transport infrastructure to fully unlock the festival’s global potential.
Beyond the famed fishing competition, tourists praised the vibrant cultural displays, traditional music, cuisine and pageantry that reflect the diversity and richness of Nigerian heritage.
The spectacle, they say, offers international visitors an authentic African cultural experience comparable to other world-renowned heritage festivals.
Other tourists believed sustained investment in tourism infrastructure, hospitality services and global marketing could transform Kebbi State into a major cultural tourism hub, contributing to Nigeria’s economic diversification drive and increasing its share of the multi-billion-dollar global tourism market.
As the festival continues, expectations remain high that Argungu will not only preserve tradition but also serve as a gateway for international cultural exchange and economic opportunity.