Nwonyo Fishing Festival
nwonyo fishing festival festival celebrated ibi people taraba state nigeria lake located kilometre north ibi community annually celebrated festival ibi neighboring community come together fish reunite lake said largest west africa run kilometre benue river name nwonyo mean hideout huge dangerous aquatic animal crocodile snake hippopotamus many nwonye fishing festival existence year traced discovery buba wurbo person founded ibi community name nwonyo mean hideout huge dangerous aquatic animal crocodile snake hippopotamus many said two myth describe actual meaning word nwonyo first myth mean “under locust bean tree” second say “abode snake” jukun language lake early discovery primarily source fishing fishingfarming community buda transformed festival neighboring community come year catch fish first public fishing festival held reign abgumanu main participant ibi wukari neighboring community came spectator late mallam muhammadu jikan buba chief ibi appointed mallam muhammadu sango custodian lake sarkin ruwa duty secure lake unauthorized fishing always declare commencement yearly fishing festival patrol lake regularly guard done allow fish grow well prior next festival year go level participation increased nwonyo festival celebrated mostly dry season lake heavy festival lot activity event take place apart fishing festival main aim event swimming competition dance music singing competition boat regatta masquerade demonstration many canoe used fish catch prevent attack dangerous aquatic animal like crocodile festival expanded gained recognition spectator even aku uka wukari people mallam adi byewi ukwe takum alhaji ali ibrahim gara donga mallam sambo garbosa mallam muhammed officerincharge wukari federation wukarino longer existence organizer festival help governor benueplateau state mr joseph gomwalk festival year one best huge success brought festival limelight fully consisted water traditional sport important personnel present governor benueplateau mr joseph gomwalk col theophilus danjuma col jega brigadier ara mahmud governor defunct gongola state alhaji abubakar barde festival point started record significant progress time biggest fish catch recorded biggest catch belong “sarkin ruwa” biggest catch weighed pound “sarki ruwa” biggest catch weighed pound biggest catch weighed pound festival reintroduced international fishing cultural festival governor danbaba danfulani suntai november year governor established taraba state tourism development board tstdb responsibility staging organizing festival automatically transferred board edition festival organised board festival claimed successful outing attracted dignitary tourist far near event capped biggest catch weighing kg quite big number important people present senate president sen david mark governor danbaba suntai two colleague admiral murtala h nyako rtd adamawa state alhaji aliyu akwe doma nasarawa state corporate organization like mtn zenith bank supported festival make event colourful festival started april colourful view performance like cultural troop horse procession canoeing swimming boat cruise hour fish hunting mr bulus joshua came top catch weighing kilogrammes followed mr dan asabe adata came second kg mr jamila baba came third kilogrammes mr joshua’s catch regarded one biggest catch history fishing festival beat record kg wife acting president mr patience jonathan present presented kia car mr joshua biggest catch also nigeria tourism development corporation ntdc present director general segun runsewe present lot gift given radio sewing machine bicycle grinding machine football tennis kit also branded shirt fez cap festival reignited present gov agbu kefas man biggest catch went home refurbished honda hennessy grand prize key car presented rtd general ty danjuma