Yauri Rigata has become source of economic stability for Kebbi, Niger, neighbouring communities —Yelwa

Alhaji Abdullahi Yelwa is the chairman of the Media and Publicity Committee of the annual Yauri Rigata International Festival. He has been a community leader in the state and a former Commissioner for Information and Health. In this interview, he speaks about the unique features of the 2024 event, adding that the Rigata has grown to become an international tourist activity and an economic front for the Yauri and Kebbi people. General Editor, TAIWO ADISA brings the excerpts:

What are the unique features of this year’s Yauri Rigatta event?

Yes, this year’s event will be held between February 7 and 10 and will open with the Agric Show because of the importance of agriculture to our community. Then there will be a Trade Fair and cultural performances. These cultural performances will feature different types of cultural dances. For instance, we have the invitational participation from neighbouring areas and neighbouring countries.

In the last one, we had people from Mali and wrestlers from Niger Republic because of our proximity to them. In addition to that, on the final day will be the Rigatta cultural display, which comprises water sports including swimming, gourd racing, barehand fishing and so many other forms of water sports that have been practised in that part of the country for many, many years.

 

What would you say is the key selling point for Yauri Rigatta?

The regatta itself has an enduring long history and it is not spelled in the Italian way; we spell ours, RIGATA and Rigata is a local, tribal term meaning competition, or, you know, who gets there first, Rigata. So historically, the festival is organised when we have animals, especially hippopotamuses and crocodiles. When they get out of hand, maybe the crocodiles will start catching swimmers and eating them, and the hippos, of course, will start capsizing ships and attacking farms and farmers. So when that point is reached, the Emir will invite his warriors, who will now dress up in their canoes with their weapons to do battle with the animals.  However, during colonialism, the killing of hippopotamuses was outlawed. So, if you need to kill a hippo, you must get the authority of the Emir and then the colonial officers. But this is how the festival originated, and for over 200 years now, it has been staged occasionally in remembrance of this important culture as well as also in promotion of other forms of entertainment.

 

So it originated as a form of social security measure to protect the people against the forces of nature?

Yes. Primarily for social security and as a form of interaction between society and the neighbouring communities.

 

At what point did it become an annual event?

It was made an annual event some years ago. It was made into an international festival. This is because of the interest that has been shown by tourists all over the world. It became an international festival. That’s why today, it is called Yauri Annual International Rigata Festival, and it has been held since then, of course with the approval and support of the Kebbi State government. This year’s event, as we said, is holding in February.

 

What are the new features that have been added over time? 

One, for this year, is an improvement over what happened last year. All the events that we staged have been carefully studied, and important improvements have been made. Please don’t let me let the cat out of the bag because we want people to come and see, especially those who attended last year. They will see a remarkable difference both in terms of organisation and in terms of the excitement of the sport, and additional sports, such as water sports, will be added.

 

Are there prizes to be won and things like that? 

Yes. Every major event has a prize, like water sports, swimming competitions, gourd racing, people floating on gourds, and swimming. It is a very difficult thing to do because many will tumble on their way to the finishing line. Then there are also different stages for girls and boys, and then canoe racing and canoe displays. Each of them has a prize attached to it. Then, at the agricultural show, the best farmers, the best in crop specialisation, animals also are brought. Poultry farmers will also come and display. In the past, it used to be traditional cocks, the biggest cock, the biggest goat, the biggest ram, all these. Over the years, people have been fattening their cows and they bring them to the festival, to win prizes.

 

So, how do you now get the competitors? 

Already, as we speak, and for over a month now, we have been with the committee. Different committees have been rehearsing and working. Certainly, you don’t just come out on the day of the festival and jump and want to win the race, but various communities along the River Niger, in the Yauri Emirate, have been planning, practising and rehearsing, and the best are chosen for the final day.

 

Is there any particular role that the state government is playing in the hosting of the event?

Oh, very, pivotal role. The event, as I said, is organised and sponsored by the Kebbi State government,  just like other important festivals that are held in the state. The executive governor of the state is the chief host and responsible for the invitation of major VIPs to the ceremony. So it is essentially a state event with the participation and collaboration of the community.

 

 How much effort have you put into it to attract tourists?

We have done extensive work to invite tourists through tourism organisations, and embassies because every year, we invite diplomats of different countries to come and they usually get excited and help us in the marketing of the event in their respective countries. We’re also in touch with the Nigerian Tourism Board, which is also engaging in the promotion of tourism across the country. So we have done extensively well and we do not doubt that a lot of tourists will come from both within and outside the country now.

 

Apart from the people socialising, what other impact will you say the festival will have on the community? 

One, it is one of the most important festivities not only for the promotion of our culture but also for the economy of the people. You know we produce the best onions in the whole world. I might say Yauri onions are known all over, especially in the South-West from Ogbomoso up to Lagos. It is Yauri onions they rely on during this time. Our onions are marketed, and our fish too. The fish market has both fresh and smoked fish and other animals like goats and cows. So, it is a very important activity to promote our economy and we have seen that every year the festival is held, we see a remarkable improvement in terms of participation in our economy, and we have no doubt this will also be another important milestone for economic development.

 

Is there any support from the Federal Government to internationalise it?

In the last exercise, when the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Muhammad, visited, he was excited about it. He made contact with government bodies and also our missions abroad. We have published copies of the older events of the Rigata. There is book one, book two, book three. We usually send them to the embassies and they use them to market the festival and make sure that people who are planning tourism, I mean trips, are informed accordingly.

 

 How will you ensure that  insecurity does not impact the programme?

Well, as you know, insecurity is a major problem across the country. On our part, as a community and at the state government, a lot has been done to make sure that security is improved and visitors who come will enjoy their time and get home back to their families safely. Some will arrive by air, either in Sokoto or the Binin-Kebbi International Airport, and others by road. We wish them a safe journey as they come. However, we are guaranteeing that adequate security measures have been taken to make sure that incidents of insecurity are reduced to a minimum.

 

So these days, you don’t witness the influx of animals anymore. Is that a result of global warming, environmental impact or other factors? 

We still have them—the crocodiles, the hippos—oh, we still have them, and our children swim with them every day. It’s a delicate relationship. We did swim with the crocodiles in our waters, and we learned to give them their boundaries as they gave us ours at the bank, as well as the hippos. I think they have become a little less timid. There are very few instances of a boat capsizing by angry hippos and we have learned a lot about how to relate with them. You don’t separate a hippo mummy from the baby. Sometimes there are mistakes where you find when hippos attack people in ships. You have probably separated a mummy hippo from the baby. If you come inbetween the mother and the baby, usually they will attack, but it’s a learning process. They are getting to accommodate us, as we are also getting to accommodate them. But, it’s like they have become geo-locational. They rarely go away; they are mostly around the River Niger and the Kainji Lake, and sometimes they go upland to some parts of the Niger Republic.

 

So how do you teach the people about the delicate relationship with the animals to forestal confrontation?

Well, all littoral societies have to co-exist with the animals around them. It’s a beneficial relationship. They don’t normally eat humans; they eat fish. Sometimes competition between humans and animals can cause a communication breakdown. Mostly, it’s communication breakdown; no harm is intended.