Urie Fishing Festival: A Celebration of Heritage in Igbide Kingdom, Delta State.
The Urie Fishing Festival is a vibrant and culturally significant annual event celebrated in Igbide Kingdom, located in Isoko South Local Government Area of Delta State. It is held every year in the first or second week of February to mark the beginning of the fishing season.
The festival spans three days and opens at 8 AM with the firing of a traditional cannon, signaling its official commencement. The first day is reserved exclusively for the Council of Elders and Chiefs, who are the only ones permitted to fish in the Urie-Igbide Lake. This act honors their leadership and ancestral roles.
For the remaining two days, the lake is opened to all villagers, allowing families and individuals to fish freely. This transforms the festival into a communal celebration filled with joy, unity, and age-old tradition.
The festival also commemorates Eru, the founder of Igbide, who first landed at the banks of the Urie-Igbide Lake. This site is considered a sacred and historical landmark, giving the celebration deep spiritual meaning for the Igbide people.
One unique cultural tradition is that the Ovie of Igbide, the traditional ruler of the kingdom, is forbidden from attending the festival. Instead, the oldest man in the town, along with the chiefs, presides over the events, maintaining ancient customs.
In addition to its cultural and spiritual depth, the Urie Fishing Festival attracts spectators from across and beyond Igbide, making it one of the most celebrated and respected festivals in Delta State.
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