An Investigation of the Architecture and Aesthetics of Contemporary Mosque Design in Maiduguri, Borno State

Mosque architecture in North East Nigeria has been shaped by centuries of Islamic aesthetic tradition, local building cultures, and contemporary construction materials, and documenting the evolution of mosque design in Maiduguri provides important insight into the intersection of religious identity, architectural creativity, and built environment aesthetics in conflict-affected northern Nigeria. This study investigated the architecture and aesthetics of contemporary mosque design in Maiduguri Metropolitan Council, Borno State, North East Nigeria. A descriptive qualitative design was employed, combining architectural documentation surveys at twelve mosques of varying scales and ages, structured interviews with four mosque architects and eight community religious leaders, and photographic analysis of facade design, spatial organisation, and decorative systems. Analysis examined formal relationships between traditional Sudano-Sahelian architecture, Gulf-influenced contemporary Islamic design, and locally available construction materials. Results identified three distinct design typologies: surviving traditional earthen structures with characteristic buttressed minarets, mid-period concrete adaptation of traditional forms, and Gulf-inspired contemporary designs using imported tiles and marble. Post-insurgency reconstruction had introduced significant Gulf-funded design influence, prioritising functional capacity over traditional aesthetic continuity. Community respondents expressed mixed responses, valuing the generous benefactor investment while expressing nostalgia for traditional aesthetic character. The study recommends architectural documentation of surviving traditional mosque structures and advocacy for contextually sensitive reconstruction design guidelines in Borno State.

Keywords: mosque architecture, Islamic aesthetics, Maiduguri, Borno State, architectural heritage