Elderly women and young girls from communities in Kotonkarfe, Kogi LGA of Kogi State, were the centre of attention during a fishing festival held recently in the ancient community, Daily Trust on Sunday reports.
As early as possible, the women in their numbers filed out from their various homes armed with fishing equipment to join in the local fishing festival with their male counterparts at the Ohi-Ogbani pond, which is among the eight preserved fishing ponds in the kingdom.
Unlike the fishing festival which usually holds annually in Igu-Koton-Karfe kingdom of Kogi LGA where dignitaries from various walks of life including those in diaspora as well as government functionaries, top politicians come to witness; this year’s fishing harvest was quite different.
It was more of a local and an informal fish harvesting by members of the community devoid of the usual ceremony and colourful activities associated with the annual fishing event.
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Daily Trust on Sunday reports that the main Igu-Kotonkarfe fishing festival which is held annually usually attracts foreign tourists with various masquerades and local musicians usually on ground to entertain spectators while prizes are given to fishermen with the biggest catch at the end of the day.
This year’s event was however thrilled with a large presence of women as part of the fishing ‘festival’ in the area.
The fishermen/women were from across the various ethnic groups in the area and were armed with their local fishing tools such as spares (kpaga) and nets (ohomo).
Our correspondent reports that the fishing festival attracted over 3000 fishermen comprising of elderly men and women; young women including teenagers.
Daily Trust on Sunday’s reporter, who was there to witness what the custodian of the Igu-Koton-Karfe kingdom described as ‘traditional fishing festival’, reports that it was a spectacle to behold, especially the exploits of the women who competed with the men to get some catch.
The women were not afraid of diving into the water with their fishing tools to search for fish. It was more of survival of the fittest as they all engaged in a rat race in search of fish.
Of particular attention was a woman who had her baby strapped to her back while she joined other women and men in search of fish right in the pond.
Some of these women used tools such as nets, woven baskets and cutlasses, going deep beneath the grasses in search of fishes, while some of the fishermen used canoes with nets to catch fish of different sizes.
Mrs Aishatu Ibrahim, a 52-year-old house wife, who was part of those that went into the pond for fishing, while speaking with our reporter, said fishing has been her major occupation from childhood.
She said, “Even before I got married, I have been fishing because I am from a riverine Edeha community where fishing and farming are our major occupation.”
She said she got more experience in fishing at both the main river and pond when she got married to a fisherman at Okofi village, saying what she was doing was not new to her.
Another woman, Mrs Hulaira Gambo, who also entered the pond for fishing, said catching fish has always been her major occupation especially through the traditional fishing methods.
“And as you can see, virtually 90 percent of people here are from riverine communities where fishing has been their major occupation. You can see how the middle-aged women are competing with men while swimming and diving into the pond in search of fish,” she said.
She said the local fishing method has always been of great advantage to the fishermen, especially women who use nets, hooks or baskets to catch fish inside the pond.
It was also observed that apart from women involved in fishing, some other women who are mostly fish sellers took advantage of the harvest to come down to the river bank, waiting patiently to buy fish from the fishermen and women.
Daily Trust on Sunday further observed that some of the fishermen, including women, who used canoes made big catches inside the pond.
Speaking with our reporter at the river bank, the Ohenyi of Igu kingdom (the chief of rivers in Kotonkarfe kingdom), Ahmed Yunusa, said the pond is among several ponds under Kotonkarfe kingdom where locals across various ethnic groups such as Egbira, Ganagana, Bassa, Gbagyi, Nupe and others, usually come together to fish locally.
He said before commencement of the local fishing, the Ohimegye Igu-Koton-Karfe kingdom, His Royal Majesty (HRM), Alhaji Salihu Saidu Akawu, will grant the permission before his subjects, including those at the riverine areas, can embark on fishing at the pond.
“So, what you are seeing here today is just local fishing, not the annual fishing festival that normally holds. This very one that is being held today is with the permission of the Ohimegye Igu-Koton-Karfe kingdom Alhaji Saidu Salihu Akawu,” he said.
According to him, the local fishing is usually held in March of every year during which fishermen and women, both young and old, come together to catch fish at the pond and take home to eat with their families.
“And I want to let you know that the (Ohi-Ogbani) pond which is located here in Abgudu village is among the eight fishing ponds preserved for a day like this,” he said.
The Ohimegye Igu-Koton-Karfe kingdom, Alhaji Saidu Salihu Akawu, while speaking with our reporter at his palace, clarified why his subjects need permission to go and fish in the ponds.
“Usually, it is a method of preservation where these ponds are blocked to prevent people from fishing so that at the end of the year, there could be bumper harvest,” he said.
He said the traditional fishing solely takes place before the rainy season sets in, saying fishermen and women take advantage after the ponds have dried up by using hand nets, hook or basket to go into the pond to harvest fish.
He said such ponds which are held in trust are always under the care of village chiefs at the riverine areas, saying everybody across various ethnic groups are invited at the end of the year or March, every year, and the palace grants them the permission to go and fish locally in any of ponds.
According to him, the Igu-Kotonkarfe kingdom decided to always embark on local fishing as a way of showcasing local methods of fishing, even as he said the main annual fishing festival could not be held this year due to some challenges.
“During the annual Igu-Kotonkarfe fishing festival, we have people from Kebbi State and tourists as well as dignitaries and top politicians come down to Kotonkarfe to witness the fishing festival. And I must say that I am glad that you took your time to visit the pond yourself to see how my people have been fishing locally, which is another avenue to bring my people together irrespective of tribe, religion, ethnic and political affiliations,” he said.
The monarch, therefore, assured that the Igu-Kotonkarfe fishing festival will be held next year 2025, even as he solicited the support of the state and federal government for the success of the festival.
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