Koton-Karfe’s exciting fishing festival

The Igu-Koton-Karfe kingdom in Kogi Local Government Area of Kogi State on Saturday, March 31, 2018, held the  second edition of its  fishing/cultural festival, which also witnessed a boat regatta, symposium/exhibition/and cultural display.  The fishing festival had  no fewer than 3,000 fishermen which comprised of elders, middle aged men and youths from different ethnic backgrounds […]

The Igu-Koton-Karfe kingdom in Kogi Local Government Area of Kogi State on Saturday, March 31, 2018, held the  second edition of its  fishing/cultural festival, which also witnessed a boat regatta, symposium/exhibition/and cultural display. 

The fishing festival had  no fewer than 3,000 fishermen which comprised of elders, middle aged men and youths from different ethnic backgrounds such as, Ganagana, Bassa, Igala, Agatu, Gwari .The Egbura indigenes of Igu-Koton-Karfe kingdom came together to celebrate the second edition of the Igu fishing festival. 

Although, the event which commenced on Friday, March 30, 2018, was heralded by various cultural troupes which  converged in front of the palace of the Ohimegye of Igu-Koton-Karfe, Alhaji Abdulrazak Isa Koto, to display their dancing steps, with masquerades on hand too with different attires to entertain till dawn.   

The fishermen, who came from various rural communities especially riverine areas of the kingdom with majority of them carrying local spears, which are called in Egbura dialect (Okpaga), while some carried the net  also known in the same Egbura dialect as (Ohomo), and they all moved in droves into the pond to  catch  fish. 

However, the fishing/cultural festival attracted the attention of people from different walks of life and dignitaries, including a representative of the governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, former chief of Army staff, Chris Alli, a Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG), Shuaibu Lawal Gambo as well as traditional rulers, village/district heads and top government functionaries converged at the pond, which was the venue of the event, for all to see who catches the biggest fish.

The Ebira Okene local musicians and some traditional Egbura Koto musicians were also present  to add colour to the event.

The Ohimegye of Igu-Koton-Karfe kingdom Alhaji Abdulrazak Isa Koto, while speaking at the event, said the kingdom decided to hold the fishing and cultural festival in order to enhance peace and unity among all other ethnic groups in the kingdom, and to also revive the Egbura cultural heritage.

He said this year’s fishing festival was unique because the ‘Ohio-Gbani’ fishing pond was the biggest among the eight  fishing ponds in the kingdom, saying the kingdom needs a lot of knowledge on how the weeds at the pond would be removed completely.

He said though the kingdom has been holding fishing festivals  locally every year since its inception, he is happy that he and all his subjects are witnessing the second edition of the fishing festival. 

He said he wished that the Igu-Kingdom becomes  a tourist destination not only for the state, Nigeria ,but the world at large, saying the kingdom has the potentials, capacity and the capability to host a fishing festival in the kingdom.

He said the kingdom also requires technical assistance from the government and  private individuals ,so that it would be able to create an enabling environment with facilities on ground ,where dignitaries and tourists will stay to watch and get themselves entertained during every  fishing festival in the area.

“To be sincere, the community and the state government cannot do it alone, which is why we are calling on the private sector and spirited individuals to intervene by coming to our aid to provide us with some of the equipment,” he said.

The traditional ruler said the festival has also created a platform where some people who have lost contact with their loved ones for years ,will have the opportunity for them to meet at the event. 

According to him, he was happy that the government has institutionalized the Igu-Koton-Karfe fishing/cultural festival since the state government cannot do it alone, while calling for the establishment of federal school of fisheries so that the fishermen would learn some new techniques.

“So that the other ponds that I said are yet to be explored can be seen ,and government will know what can be done about them,” the traditional ruler added. 

The sole administrator of Kogi Local Government Area, Barrister Mohammed Musa Tanko, said this year’s fishing festival was to expand the scope of showcasing the rich culture of the Egbura people of Igu-Koton-Karfe kingdom.

He said the Igu-Koton-Karfe kingdom is blessed with numerous fish ponds such as, Enyi-Zihe, Iduu, Oriki, Ohembe, Ogumachi, Okotobo, Onkwo, Ana-Dagema, Unwe, Odumas-Kada, Enyi-Onye, Iba and several others. He said such ponds are continuously harvested for over two months, while Ohio-ogbani has been exclusively reserved for only the period of the fishing festival.

The sole administrator noted that the Igu-Koton-Karfe has been enjoying 24 hours of electricity supply since last year, through the effort of the state governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello.

“We want to use this opportunity to call on investors to cash in on this rare opportunity to patronize the peace, goodwill and conducive atmosphere of the people through investment here in Koton-Karfe kingdom, “he said.

He added “Our people are predominantly farmers and fishermen who use classical fishing tools, we also intend to encourage our people to stoutly stand by this practice.

Bello, thanked the Ohimegye of Igu-Koton-Karfe and members of his traditional council, the state government and some corporate organizations for its support towards the success of the fishing festival, saying the fishing festival has social impact that it will bring ‘as it is an opportunity for us to meet after long period of time.”

In his keynote address, the Kogi State governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, represented by the state commissioner for Transport, Mohammed Awwal Imam, said culture is the way of life of a people, while appreciating the people of Koton-Karfe kingdom to continue to uphold their culture 

He commended the traditional ruler for his efforts towards reviving the Egbura culture, saying it was the first time he was seeing an elaborate fishing festival that has attracted every son and daughter at home and abroad who have all come together to witness the event.

Also speaking, the Ohimegye of Opanda-Umaisha, in Toto Local Government of Nasarawa state, Alhaji Usman Abdullahi, said he came all the way from his chiefdom in Nasarawa state to watch the fishing festival, because of the brotherhood between the Egbura people of Opanda and Igu-Koton-Karfe people.

He said the Opanda and Igu-Koton-Karfe are blood related owing to the fact that  they have  the same grandfather, which he said is  the reason why he is also called, and bears the same title as  (Ohimegye of Opanda).

“And that was one of the reasons I decided to come all the way from my chiefdom in Nasarawa state to also witness the fishing festival here in Koton-Karfe kingdom,” he said.

A Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) who is a native of Koton-Karfe kingdom, Shuaibu Lawal Gambo, said the fishing festival was an opportunity for him to come home to witness the festival, saying the fishing festival would help in reviving the Egbura tradition that was left behind by their forefathers.

He noted that the festival has also created a platform where elites of the kingdom who have lost contact with their friends, relatives and family members  could  now come together to discuss on how to contribute for the development of the Igu-Koton-Karfe kingdom.

“And I believe that repetition of this and other cultural activities would help to boost the economy of Koton-Karfe kingdom. And there are many things that are attached  to this festival, which I believe if government will give more priority to it, it will create job opportunities for  our teeming youths and unemployed graduates,” he said.

The police DIG said the government  also needs to contribute towards supporting the fishing festival through providing the required facilities that will make the festival become a standard one.

At the end of occasion, prizes were presented some participants. Those who came first, second and third positions were given prizes of brand new motorcycles, two Plasma televisions, deep freezer and DSTV decoder.