Introduction
Taraba State is situated in the North
Eastern geographical zone of Nigeria.
It was carved out of the former
Gongola State by the General
Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida (IBB)
regime in 1991.
The name, Taraba, was derived from
the Taraba River, which traverses the
southern part of the State. Other
main rivers in the State are Ibi,
Donga and Benue, which all rise from
the Cameroon Mountains, stretching
almost the entire length of the state
in the Northern and the Southern
direction to link up with the River
Niger.
Communities living around these
rivers engage in fishing activities all
year round. It is in recognition of
this, that the State Government
made efforts to bring to limelight the
Nwonyo Fishing and Cultural Festival
in Ibi Local Government Area, as one
out of the potentials discovered in
the state for the development of
tourism. The festival usually holds in
April every year.
Historical Background
Nwonyo Fishing and Cultural Festival
is said to be one of the oldest of its
kind in Africa. The festival started
about 96 years ago and is usually
held at the Nwonyo Lake, located
some five kilometres north of Ibi
town.
The name “Nwonyo” literally means
“a hideout” for monstrous aquatic
animals such as crocodiles and
hippopotamus. This meaning was
derived from the fact that the
Nwonyo creek contains a variety of
these aquatic animals.
However, there are two myths
surrounding the actual meaning of
the word Nwonyo. The first version
says it means, “under the locust
bean tree;” while the second version
says, “abode of the snake,” in Jukun
language.
The Nwonyo Lake is said to be the
largest in West Africa, running a
stretch of about 15 kilometres
tributary to the River Benue.
According to oral tradition, the lake
was discovered by Bula (in Wuroboh
language) a great descendant of the
Jibu dynasty who was sent to Ibi to
look after activities carried out by
traders around the river.
Bula discovered that the lake was
more than a source of fish supply; he
then transformed the large scale
fishing activity into a fishing festival
by members of Ibi Community. This
transformation began in 1826. During
his reign, communities living around
Nwonyo Lake were invited to the lake
to catch fish once in every year. The
catch made was then divided into
three portions; and because of his
liberal nature, Bulah would take one
portion only and give the remaining
two portions to the fishermen.
Features of the Festival
It could be said that over the years,
the Nwonyo Fishing Festival has
assumed a different dimension,
incorporating various activities. Some
of these include:
*Boat Racing
*Swimming
*Boat Regatta
*Masquerade Dances
*Traditional Dances
*The Fish-Catch Competition (main
event)
The fish-catch competition is the
main event of the festival.
Masquerading, traditional dances,
horse riding/racing, boat racing,
swimming, and boat regatta are the
recreational/entertainment activities
that take place during the festival.
The Chief of Ibi is the custodian of
the festival; while the “Sarkin
Ruwa” (spiritual head of the Nwonyo
Lake) is the overseer of the lake. He
patrols the lake with his guards on
regular basis because nobody is
allowed to fish in the lake for a
period of one year before the event
and one week after the event. The
lake is closed to fishermen to allow
the fish in it grow and mature for the
next festival season.
The Sarkin Ruwa also performs
certain traditional rites along with the
custodian at the river before the
commencement of every fishing
competition. The fishermen
(competitors) can only go into the
river when it has been declared open
by him.
Wide and big fishing nets are used
for the fishing competition and most
of the fishing efforts are in groups.
The biggest catch is said to be known
as the “Giwan Ruwa.” At the end of
the festival, prizes are given to the
first three persons with the biggest
catch. The catches are in turn
auctioned while others are sold to
dignitaries, spectators, and
participants at the event.
Developmental Challenges
As stated earlier, the Nwonyo Fishing
and Cultural Festival, according to
oral tradition, became traditionally
recognized during the reign of Bula in
1826, by members of Ibi community.
In the course of time, the desire to
raise money for the community was
said to have influenced some of his
successors into hiring out the lake
instead of continuing with the
festival.
In 1954, the festival became a
divisional affair with spectators
coming from all over the defunct
Wukari Division with the Aku Uka of
Wukari, Mallam Adi Byewi, the Ukwe
of Takum, Alhaji Ali Ibrahim, the
Gara of Donga, Mallam Sambo
Garbosa, and the Officer-in-charge of
the Wukari federation, Mallam I. D.
Muhammed, in attendance.
In 1973, the festival was officially
organized by the defunct Wukari
federation through the efforts of the
then Governor of Benue/Plateau
State, Mr. J. D. Gomwalk. It was
organized in an elaborate manner
complete with water and traditional
sports and this exposed and brought
the festival to limelight. In
attendance were the then Governor
of Benue/Plateau, Mr. Gomwalk and
the then Col. T.Y. Danjuma.
The festival at this point started to
record some significant progress and
performance such as the biggest
catch, “Giwan Ruwa”. In 1970, it
weighed 60 pounds; the 1971 “giwan
ruwa” weighed 175 pounds; while in
1973, the biggest catch weighed 124
pounds.
Other Governors who witnessed the
festival in the late 70’s were the then
Col. M. D. Jega (1978), Brigadier
A.R.A. Mahmud (1979) and the
Governor of the defunct Gongola
State Alhaji Abubakar Barde, who
later re-introduced it as an Annual
Fishing Festival during the Second
Republic (1979-83).
Incidentally, the festival was not
given any significant attention
thereafter until it was repackaged by
the Governor Jolly Nyame
Administration (2005-2006). But it
was still relatively known as an
Annual Fishing Festival. This was said
to have marked the turning point in
the history of the festival as it
acquired an even greater significance
when the state government took over
its organization and funding. It also
received a massive boost by way of
increased funding, prestige, and
attention.
By 2008, the festival was re-
introduced as an International Fishing
and Cultural Festival by Governor
Danbaba Danfulani Suntai. In
November the same year, the
governor established the Taraba State
Tourism Development Board (TSTDB),
and the responsibility of staging and
organizing the festival was
automatically transferred to the
Board.
The Board supervised the
organization and staging of the 2009
edition of the festival which it
claimed was a successful outing that
attracted dignitaries and tourists
from far and near; and the event was
capped with the biggest catch
weighing 230kg. In attendance were
the Senate President, Sen. David
Mark (GCON), Governor Danbaba D.
Suntai and two of his colleagues:
Admiral Murtala H. Nyako (rtd) of
Adamawa State and Alhaji Aliyu Akwe
Doma of Nasarawa State. Corporate
Organizations like MTN and Zenith
Bank supported the festival to make
the events more colourful.
The 2010 edition was also organized
and supervised by the State Tourism
Board. Apart from the fish-catch
event, the festival was herald by
various cultural attractions such as
the mini-durbar, boat regatta,
masquerades, swimming and
traditional dances. Important
dignitaries at the festival included the
wife of the then Acting President,
Dame Patience Goodluck Jonathan, as
well as three Governors: Alhaji
Danbaba Danfulani Suntai of Taraba
State, Admiral Murtala H. Nyako of
Adamawa State and Dr. Muazu
Babangida Aliyu of Niger State
respectively. The biggest catch at the
event weighed 318kg.
Conclusion
The Nwonyo Cultural and Fishing
Festival signifies, not only the cultural
identity of the people of Ibi, but also
their socio-economic identity. The
festival has placed the state on the
tourism map with great potentials for
attracting both local and foreign
investors. There is no gainsaying the
fact that if these potentials are
properly harnessed and organized by
the state and federal government,
Nwonyo will boost the state economy
and enhance national development.

Believe it or Not My Grandfathe Once Caught A Hippopotamus in this festival that was the first time i tested it in 2012

more www.africanpoint.tk

Try to write about wukari too, it's believed to be to be the jukum headquarters nauh. I'm currently serving here tho and ibi is a no go area.