Catch of the day: Pictures from spectacular Nigerian fishing festival

With their nets at the ready, tens of thousands of fishermen were poised to take part in a traditional festival in northern Nigeria last weekend after a six-year break due to Covid and security concerns.

The drummers beat out the traditional rhythm of the Kabawa people as the Sarkin Ruwan, or custodian of the river, performed a ceremony before the competition could begin at this decades-old event.

Sani Maikatanga A line of fishermen seen in silhouette walking with their nets and gourds.Sani Maikatanga
Participants had been gathering since early in the morning.

Sani Maikatanga A bare-chested fisherman sits with his gourd and nets on dusty ground. Sani Maikatanga
Sani Maikatanga Dust partially obscures a scene of hundreds of fishermen waiting to take part in the competitionSani Maikatanga

They then began the sprint towards the Matan Fada river, which is closed for the rest of the year to allow fish stocks to grow ahead of the festival.

AFP via Getty Images Fishermen run towards the Matan Fada river. They’re holding nets and gourds. One man in the front of the image can be seen holding a yellow jerrycan.AFP via Getty Images

With their nets flapping behind them, and carrying large gourds, they plunged into the water to take part in a contest that marked the culmination of four days of celebrations at the Argungu International Fishing and Cultural Festival, which this year was attended by President Bola Tinubu.

AFP via Getty Images A crowded picture of fishermen in the water with one in the middle floating on a gourd.AFP via Getty Images

The fishermen waded through the water, which reached to their chins in parts, and dragged their nets along the bottom. The gourd was used as a buoyancy aid and a place to put the catch.

The Sarkin Ruwan oversaw the competition from his canoe.

AFP via Getty Images A man dressed in traditional clothes rides on the front of a canoe surrounded by fishermen in the water.AFP via Getty Images

Once on dry land, the fish were handed to the judges, who hauled the enormous creatures onto the scales.

The winner caught a giant croaker fish weighing 59kg (9st 2lb) and was awarded two new cars and 1m naira ($740; £550) in prize money.

Other huge fish, like the one below, were also pulled out of the river but fell short of first place.