Koton-Karfe’s ex
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 IguKoton-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 IguKingdom 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