The Intersection of the Sacred and the Profane in Urban Markets in Ibadan, Nigeria

Abstract

The secularization of the sacred and the sanctification of the secular are two ongoing processes in contemporary urban areas in Nigeria. Although, profanity and sacredness are two distinct ‘realities’ in every religious arena, observations reveal some convergences of the duo in urban market settings. This is a departure from Durkheim’s distinction between the sacred and the profane; hence, this calls for further contextual scholarly attention. Qualitative data were collected via observations, Key Informant Interviews (KII) and In-depth Interviews (IDI) which were conducted with traders and religious leaders whose churches/mosques provided trading shops/spaces to these traders, and who organized prayer sessions for traders. Data were subjected to content analysis and findings revealed that churches have shopping malls in the markets; also, a mosque let out its open space for trading. Letting was done without religious sentiment, thus, it is evident that economic bias is more important than religious sentimentality. Both Christian and Muslim traders meet from time to time at designated places in the markets for religious rituals. As a result, traders create the consciousness of divine worship and prayer to integrate sacredness and profanity into everyday market transactions, and also advance mutual trader-cohesion for individual and market success.