AJADI Stephen (2017) Land and the "Gradient Forces" of religion and urbanism: The Gospel Town

Abstract:
This paper was written during the Masterclass “Sacred Urbanism: Entrepreneurial Religion, Infrastructure and the New Urbanism in Nigeria” held at the University of Ibadan in June 2017. The author conducted a one-day fieldwork at the Gospel Faith Mission International (GOFAMINT), located in Òjóò, Ibadan. The paper looks at the issue of land as a medium of development and expansion for religious organisations such as GOFAMINT. It deals with the Church land acquisition process and appropriation of public space and urban living. It also responds to the impacts and consequences of land use and identity as they interact with each other in the context of religion and secularity.

Keywords:
religious communities, land acquisition, urban space, public space