Author(s):
Agunbiade Nurudeen, Agunbiade.nurudeen@yahoo.com , +2347034538917

Abstract: Greeting is an act of communication in which human beings intentionally make their presence known to each other, to show attention to, and to suggest a type of relationship (usually cordial) or social status (formal or informal) between individuals or groups of people coming in contact with each other. Greeting is one of the ways that different people at different cultural background exhibit their values. Greetings dictate the respect and humbleness of the people in a particular community. Ilorin as an early city in Nigeria which was largely dominated linguistically by Yoruba speaking people have their own way of greetings which also exhibit their own way of respecting one another. But the early introduction of Islam to Ilorin has not change holistically the cultural values of greetings in this community. Thus, early Muslim scholars maintain the cultural values of greetings apart from Muslim way of greeting. By early 21st century a new dimension has come in terms of greetings through some sect that refers to themselves as ‘New Sunni Sect’. Meanwhile, the word ‘Sunni’ is to show those who are the followers of the Sunnah of prophet Muhammed (S.A.W) of which even those who are not among the sect members they can refers to themselves as Sunni because they are also followers of the prophet. Unfortunately, the introduction of compulsion and labeling those people who are not among the sect members in terms of greetings and other spheres as Kafir (unbeliever) has been a major instrument of conflict in Ilorin. Hence, the study would explain the concept of greetings and how it serves as an instrument of conflict, effects and way forward.