Ahead of the much-anticipated Kebbi polo pilgrimage, defending champions NSK Farm and Jos Malcomines , top the list of teams jostling for laurels as the 8th Argungu Polo Tournament and Cultural Fete is set for the foremost NSK Polo Ranch and Resort in Argungu, Kebbi State.
Billed to gallop off with fanfare on September 7 and climax with pomp on September 9, the most spectacular and massively visited African Polo and cultural tourism festival in North-West Nigeria will feature the two rivals in another exciting challenge that is guaranteed to go all the way to the wire.
Chief host of Argungu Polo Tournament and Cultural Fete, Alhaji Nura Sani Kangiwa and the Director-General, National Institute of Hospitality and Tourism (NIHOTOUR), confirmed that activities lined-up for this year’s event would be mind-blowing compared to previous editions.
He stated that not less than 30 polo players, some of whom are the best in Nigeria and over 150 polo horses would participate in the tournament for three days of polo unparalleled excitement and the best of Nigerian and West African cultural display in the pristine town of Argungu.
Kangiwa assured that this year’s tournament would be hosting more emissaries, international dignitaries and foreign governments’ officials in attendance, adding that cultural entertainment groups from West African countries have confirmed their participation and are currently making arrangements to showcase their best.
“We are pushing to increase spectator turnout this year, while creating more opportunities for home-based players. The level of team interest is inspiring and we look forward to watching the competition unfold in what promises to be the most exciting high-goal season ever,” he declared.
If the elaborate preparations which started earlier since February is anything to go by, the NationSport can conveniently disclose that the competition, excitement and pomp that is the hallmark of the noble game, will not be less as the sporting cum cultural carnival blast-off today.
Some of the traditional displays at the event would be culinary arts, traditional wrestling, camel racing, horse racing, mini-Durbar, folk songs and dance, bull fighting, and many other uncommon traditional spectacles.
The 2023 Organising Committee emphasised that the major objective is to sustainably improve the economic multiplier-effects of the event to Kebbi State residents and tourist host communities.
Argungu is nationally renowned as an agricultural produce export town with comparative advantage in rice farming, fishing and allied industries.
Kangiwa extolled the pioneering roles and fatherly support of the Emir of Argungu, Alhaji Samaila Mera, who is also the Grand Patron of the polo & Cultural tournament would be hosting more emissaries, international dignitaries and foreign governments’ officials.
It was gathered that the best performing Nigerian cultural troupes and their counterparts neighbouring West African countries have confirmed their participation and are currently finalizing rehearsals to showcase their best.
Some of the traditional displays at the event this year, would include culinary arts, traditional wrestling, camel racing, horse racing, mini-Durbar, folk songs and dance, bull fighting, and many other uncommon traditional spectacles.
Typically, in any week of the Argungu Polo Tournament and Cultural Fete, thousands of visitors and tourists’ throng into the town of Argungu and assemble at the NSK Polo ground, thereby creating massive socio-economic opportunities and measurable benefits to residents and businesses in Argungu Emirate.
In recent years, cultural entertainment groups and high-profile polo players have been enchanting crowds, residents, visitors and tourists with awe-inspiring polo displays and traditional performances that put the rich African cultural heritage on the map.