Argungu came back after six years. 50,000 fishermen. One 59kg catch. Two cars.

The Matan Fada River has been waiting.

The 61st Argungu International Fishing Festival returned last weekend after a six-year pause forced by insecurity and COVID-19. Abubakar Usman from Maiyama, Kebbi State, pulled a 59kg fish from the water using a hand net and walked home with two cars and ₦1 million.

The festival is older than Nigerian independence. It began in 1934 as a peace agreement between the Sokoto Caliphate and the Kebbi Kingdom, two groups that had been at war deciding to fish together instead. Competitors still come from Niger, Chad, and Togo. Al Jazeera covered the return.

The Sarkin Ruwa, the traditional guardian who protects the river year-round so it's full when the festival comes, said fear of attendance was still real this year. People came anyway.

Some things survive the country's worst years. This is one of them.