Everyday Religious Encounters and Inter-Faith Relations in Festac Town, Lagos (Southwest Nigeria)

Abstract

This chapter examines everyday religious encounters and inter-faith relations in Festac Town, Lagos, Southwest Nigeria. It explores the nature of these encounters and the factors facilitating its conduct. Globally, subjects dealing with inter-religious relations continue to elicit scholarly debates. A reason for this is linked to the intense rivalries or tensions among disparate religious groups over, for instance, the (re)affirmation of religious boundaries or the right to use the hijab in secular or missionary schools within a contentious locality. While these have often spurred serious confrontations in many areas, there are instances where this form of religious encounters manifests positively elsewhere. Festac Town, with a large mix of Muslims and Christians, satisfies the above position. Founded in 1977, religious interactions in the town have not only been fluid but exhibit a high level of tolerance. Based on extensive oral interviews and secondary sources, the chapter notes that inter-faith harmony is a key component that reinforces the town's quest for good neighborliness.