Things to do in Kebbi this weekend

Kebbi is one of the states with historical and heritage sites that are of immense importance to the culture of its people and would impact on visitors to the state. Coming without visits to  places like Surame city, Gidan Nabame, Abdullahi Fodio’s tomb, the Grand Fishing Hotel, Argungu International Fishing Festival’s game village and having […]

Kebbi is one of the states with historical and heritage sites that are of immense importance to the culture of its people and would impact on visitors to the state. Coming without visits to  places like Surame city, Gidan Nabame, Abdullahi Fodio’s tomb, the Grand Fishing Hotel, Argungu International Fishing Festival’s game village and having a taste of the cherished Kilishin Gwandu might make your trip incomplete.

The Argungu Grand Fishing Hotel

To enable tourists who annually converge in Argungu for the International Fishing Festival have a complete feel of the event the 3-star Grand Fishing Hotel and a festival village with huts was built by the old Sokoto State Government. The hotel is about a kilometre’s drive from the fishing village.
Apart from its attractive architectural designs and aluminum works on the large expanse of which adds some special effects to the hotel, its lobby, reception, a 150-seater restaurant, 260 capacity banquet hall and 60 well-structured rooms would lure anybody back.

Argungu International Fishing Festival
What is today known as Argungu International Fishing and Cultural Festival started in 1931 during the visit of Sultan Hassan Dan-Mua’zu to Argungu on the invitation of Emir Muhammadu Sama. Moved by the spirit of the fishing event, the sultan stood by the river bank and prayed that the whole world would hear about the place. Today, Argungu fishing festival has become an international event. Every year people from across the world converge in the ancient town of Argungu to witness it.

Kilishin Gwandu, tomb of Uthman Dan Fodiyo’s brother, Abdullahi

Two things makes Gwandu town unique. It is the home of late Abdullahi Fodiyo and is also famous for its tasty kilishi, a specially-spiced dried meat. Anyone who visits Kebbi without paying a visit to the ancient town to either take a look at the tomb of the late Uthman Dan Fodio’s brother, Abdullahi or for its tasty and cherished kilishi has lost out completely. Gwandu, because of its historical importance often receives visitors from different parts of Nigeria and abroad. Preparing Kilishi is a major occupation of the people of Gwandu and it is in high demand from within and outside Nigeria.

The ancient palace  where emirs are buried
What is today known as Gidan Nabame (Kanta Museum) in Argungu was built by Yakubu Nabame, the 23rd emir of Argungu in 1831 as a palace years after the Kabawa left Surame Kingdom following the death of King Kanta. According to records, all the kings who reigned over the ancient town after the death of Nabame lived in the palace except the present emir, Alhaji Samaila Mera and his late father, Emir Muhammadu Mera.
Gidan Nabame is an important traditional and historical structure attached to the Kabawa of Argungu. Apart from being the final burial place for their emirs, the ancient palace which today serves as a national museum can be described as a sanctuary for Kabbi kingdom’s cultural, occupational and traditional artefacts dating back to when the Kabbi people were in Surame city 600 years ago. To show its symbolic importance, the current Emir of Argungu, till today still holds court session and receives homage at Gidan Nabame every Friday after the Jumat prayers

Surame City: The 600-year-old Kabbi Kingdom

The 19 square kilometres landmass lying between Binji and Silame local government areas of Sokoto State was once the booming political headquarters of Kabbi Kingdom in the 15th century. It is known as Surame City and is situated at one of the busiest Trans-Saharan routes along the River Rima bank. Its first king was a great warrior, Muhammed Kanta. The kingdom where Kebbi people settled in the 15th century was trapezium in shape and 300 metres in height. Though it collapsed the rubbles of its foundation within the rectangular walls that surrounded the palace still serves as evidence of what Kanta palace once looked like. The palace has many features which include the ancient wells, circular foundations of the houses built for the wives of the king and his disciples. Though the palace is in ruins and the houses at Surame city are gone, their foundations remain intact till this day.