The creeks and coastlines of Bakassi are buzzing with anticipation as the community-driven Bakassi International Fish Festival officially launched its 30-day countdown, promising the most “meaningful and impactful” edition yet.
The festival, now in its fourth year, was founded by Frank Edima, who currently serves as the Founder and Convener. Edima released a powerful statement titled, “CELEBRATING OUR HERITAGE, SUSTAINING OUR STORY,” emphasizing that the event is more than a tourist attraction, it is a reclamation of the Bakassi identity.
“Four years ago, a dream was born, to tell the Bakassi story through the language of our people: fishing, culture, and community,” Edima wrote. “Bakassi is more than a place, it is a heritage.”
The statement proudly details the sacrifices made to build the festival, noting that the team “never gave up, even when support was not in sight.” The core purpose remains to empower local fishing communities, boost tourism, and preserve the spirit of Bakassi for future generations.
However, the announcement also subtly addresses ongoing behind-the-scenes tensions regarding the festival’s control and direction. Edima acknowledged that “several conversations are ongoing around the festival at different levels,” a clear reference to other stakeholders or groups potentially attempting to align with or claim the highly successful project.
She firmly asserted: “the Bakassi International Fish Festival remains a community-founded project built on transparency, teamwork, and the resilience of the people who started it.”
The statement culminated with a defiant African proverb that encapsulates the team’s mission: “Until the lion begins to speak, the story will always glorify the hunter.”
This proverb suggests the festival is the voice of the community, ensuring their story, and not that of external interests (“the hunter”), is the one that is told.
The official flier has now been unveiled by the Bakassi International Fish Festival team, with the full program lineup and announcements promised soon. The message is clear: the journey continues, the vision lives on, and the community is united to celebrate Bakassi.
BakassiFishFestival2025 is set to be a major event on the regional calendar, focusing on heritage and grassroots empowerment.
