By Emmanuel Awari-Jalingo
Taraba State Government has announce that the 2026 Nwonyo Fishing Festival has been schedule for 17th -18th April in lake Ibi.
Speaking at a press conference, Mr. Lynn Adda, on behalf of the Chairman of the Publicity Sub-Committee, Barrister Danjuma Adamu, said the event was approved by Governor Agbu Kefas.
He said that the festival remains a key cultural showcase aimed at projecting the rich traditions of the people of Taraba State to the global community.
According to the programme, activities will commence on Friday, April 17, with the Jukun Youth Day celebration at the Aku Uka Palace in Wukari. The event, scheduled for 9 a.m., will feature cultural displays, march past and procession highlighting the heritage of the Jukun people.
A keynote address will be delivered by Simon Bako Lalong, Senator representing Plateau South Senatorial District, on the theme, “Rooted in Culture, United in Diversity: Jukun Youths for Peace and Progress.”
The day will also include coronation and conferment of royal titles by the Aku Uka of Wukari, Ishaku Adda Ali Matakhitswen, alongside awards presentation by the President of the Jukun Youths and Cultural Development Association, Comrade Audu Danjuma Tsokwa.
The main event, the Nwonyo Annual Traditional Fishing Festival, will hold on Saturday, April 18, at the Nwonyo Lake in Ibi, beginning at 10 a.m.
He disclosed that the festival will be hosted by Governor Kefas through the State Ministry of Heritage and Ecotourism and will be held under the distinguished presence of Theophilus Yakubu Danjuma, the Abonta of Wukari.
Dignitaries expected at the event include President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as Special Guest of Honour, President John Dramani Mahama of Ghana as Distinguished African Guest of Honour, and Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell as International Guest of Honour.
The Royal Father of the Day is His Royal Majesty, Aku Uka of Wukari, Dr. Ishaku Adda Ali Matakhitswen, who also serves as Chairman of the Taraba State Council of Chiefs and Emirs.
The Nwonyo Fishing Festival is one of the most prominent cultural events in Taraba State, drawing participants and tourists from across Nigeria and beyond.
This historic festival traces its roots to 1816, when the lake was discovered by Buba Wurbo, the founder of Ibi. Over time, what began as a communal fishing activity evolved into a cultural spectacle celebrated annually by the people of Ibi and neighbouring communities.
The name “Nwonyo” itself means “a hideout for huge and dangerous aquatic animals,” referencing the ancient waters believed to house crocodiles, snakes and hippopotamuses.
For decades, the festival brought life to Taraba State. Canoes cut through the waters, fishermen competed for the biggest catch, and cultural troupes filled the air with traditional songs and dances.
Yet after 2010, insecurity concerns, administrative inertia and economic challenges led to the suspension of the event. Businesses that depended on the festival declined, hotels lost guests, and the once-bustling tourism hub of Ibi gradually went quiet. The cultural heartbeat of the community slowed.
With the coming of Governor Dr Abgu Kefas, history turned a new page in 2024.