Ilorin Warning: You are not logged in. Your IP address will be publicly visible if you make any edits. If you log in or create an account, your edits will be attributed to your username, along with other benefits.Anti-spam check. Do not fill this in! ==Culture== {{Moresources | section|date=March 2024}} ===Religion=== The city is a confluence of cultures, populated by the [[Yoruba people|Yoruba]], [[Fula people|Fulani]], [[Nupe people|Nupe]], [[Bariba people|Bariba]], [[Kanuri people|Kanuri]], [[Igbo people|Igbo]] and [[Hausa people|Hausa]] ethnicities across Nigeria, as well as foreign and nationals. There are large Christian and Islamic populations, and many ceremonial activities, mostly with religious aspects, take place in the city throughout the year. ==== Christianity in Ilorin ==== [[File:Rev George Adegboye preaching at Rhema Chapel International Churches International Headquarters.jpg|thumb|Rev George Adegboye preaching at Rhema Chapel International Churches International Headquarters - International Convention Centre (The ICC), Tanke, Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria]] [[File:Chapel of the Light, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria 01.jpg|thumb|a distance view of the chapel of light, University of Ilorin]] The city has a host of ancient and modern churches with moderate to large congregations, such as the [[Catholic Church]], [[Cherubim and Seraphim (Nigerian church)|Cherubim and Seraphim churches]], Anglican, Methodist, [[Celestial Church of Christ]], [[Evangelical Church Winning All]] (ECWA), Emmanuel Baptist Church, First Baptist Church, and Zion Baptist church. Notable Pentecostal churches include [[Redeemed Christian Church of God]], [[The Gospel Faith Mission International]] (Gofamint), [[Deeper Life Church]], and [[Living Faith Church]]. [[Seventh-day Adventist]]s are also represented. Most Christian churches in the state started schools and introduced innovative ideas that were readily adopted by the Muslim schools.<ref>{{cite journal|url=http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/routledg/cjmm/2004/00000024/00000001/art00014 |title=ingentaconnect Christian churches in Ilorin, Nigeria: a brief historical survey |journal=Journal of Muslim Minority Affairs |publisher=Ingentaconnect.com |date=2004-04-01 |volume=24 |issue=1 |pages=175β180 |doi=10.1080/1360200042000212214 |access-date=2013-12-17|last1=Yahaya |first1=Eliasu |s2cid=144740520 }}</ref> There has been a [[Latter-day Saint]] congregation in Ilorin since 1992. In that year an LDS mission was organized in the city that year, but shortly later merged with the one in [[Enugu]]. Starting in 2016 additional LDS congregations were organized in Ilorin, which in 2018 was transferred to the new Nigerian Ibadan Mission, and had a district organized.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://drive.google.com/file/d/1DeToVIncRUgvAaBie-Mt_x5mGi60uawO/view?usp=embed_facebook|title=Cumorah Newsletter - July 2018.pdf|website=Google Docs|accessdate=6 December 2022}}</ref> ===Ilorin Central Mosque=== ===History=== The first Ilorin central mosque was founded in 1820 in the Agbarere Area, popularly known as "Ile-Elewa", under the leadership of Sheik Imam Muhammad Munab'bau. This was followed in 1835 when another central mosque was built at Idi-Ape during the reign of the first Emir of Ilorin, Abdus-salam. However, more than a century later, this central mosque could no longer cope with the growth in the Muslim population of the city. For this reason, in 1974, the ninth Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Zulkarnaini Gambari, invited Grand Mufti Alhaji Mohammed Kamal-u-deen and the then present Wazirin Ngeri of Ilorin, Abubakar Sola Saraki, to co-ordinate the fundraising and construction of a new central mosque. ===The present Ilorin Central Mosque=== [[File:Central Mosque Ilorin19.jpg|thumb|Central Mosque Ilorin]] On 30 April 1977, the foundation was laid for the new mosque by the Emir of [[Gwandu]] on behalf of the Sarki Musulmi, Sultan Abubakar III. The new Ilorin Central Mosque was completed and officially opened in 1981 by the former president Alhaji [[Shehu Shagari]]. The Mosque was renovated, rehabilitated and expanded in 2012 with a majestic view. The newly redecorated mosque was recommissioned on 14 December 2012. ===The "New" Ilorin Central Mosque=== Planning for the rehabilitation, refurbishment and redecoration of the Central Mosque started in 2007 when Alhaji Ibrahim Zulu Gambari, CFR, the eleventh Emir of Ilorin, with assistance from Abubakar Bukola Saraki, the Turaki of Ilorin, and the former Governor of [[Kwara State]], set up a technical committee headed by Alhaji Shehu Abdul-gafar on the rehabilitation and enhancement of the central mosque. The committee has invited expertise from specialists in mosque construction from around the world, especially from [[Saudi Arabia]], the [[United Arab Emirates|United Arab Emirates,]] and [[Nigeria]]. In addition to the general restoration and enhancement of the mosque, it now has a total of 99 domes of different diameters, 75 feet above the floor. The large dome is made of gold finish while the four big domes around are coated in green with reflective illumination. The mosque form is enveloped within a pyramid shape with a square base and 45 inclinations for the faces. It has four accessible minarets, each standing at a height of 150 feet. Moreover, all the dilapidated domes and minarets with mosaic finishing were restored and finished with cut-to-size marble. The exterior and interior are covered by special marble while the expanded courtyard was constructed with heat-absorbing granite (marble) finish. The doors and windows were replaced with specially designed ones befitting the new mosque concept. Summary: Please note that all contributions to Christianpedia may be edited, altered, or removed by other contributors. If you do not want your writing to be edited mercilessly, then do not submit it here. You are also promising us that you wrote this yourself, or copied it from a public domain or similar free resource (see Christianpedia:Copyrights for details). Do not submit copyrighted work without permission! 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