Impressions of Nigeria

Abandoned mosque by the side of Lagos-Ibadan Interstate Expressway

One of many (abandoned) church universities by the side of Lagos-Ibadan Interstate Expressway

Pentecostal churches advertising in Ibadan

Taken during Sunday worship at the Chapel of the Resurrection, University of Ibadan

On the left the Grand Mosque on U.I. campus, on the right the cross next to the Chapel of the Resurrection. When the mosque was built, the cross sparked a controversy. It was felt that the cross invaded the sacred space of the mosque. Eventually, the pillar on the very left, bearing the shahada, was built.

One of a series of murals in Ibadan by the Educare Trust, attempting to educate the population on matters of health and hygiene.

National Archives Ibadan. A post on my work here will follow as soon as possible.

The departmental library in U.I.'s Religious Studies department, dedicated to one of its most notable sons, Bolaji Idowu, who endeavoured to shed light on Yoruba beliefs and practices from an emic perspective.

A view of Ibadan, Africa largest metropolitan area.

Noo Saro-Wiwa, in her fascinating and highly entertaining book "Looking for Transwonderland", writes about cultism on Nigerian campuses: "University cults are a big problem in Nigerian universities. They began as fraternities or 'confraternities', harmless social clubs for male students. [...] But by the 1980s, the nature of confraternities had morphed into something more sinister." (p.87) She goes on to talk about the fraternities' anti-democratic tendencies, traditional religious rites, and often violent initiation rituals.

The vegetation on campus and outside is stunningly lush and beautiful...

...particularly after the onset of the wet season, ...

....making up for the overwhelming heat...

...and the smog in the city.