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Thousands of people, including residents, tourists, and dignitaries, have gathered at the Kwara Baseball Park on Thursday for the 2026 Ilorin Emirate Grand Durbar celebration, which was led by AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq and the Emir of Ilorin.
The annual festival, usually held during Eid-el-Kabir, featured horse parades, traditional music, drumming, praise singing, and other cultural performances.
Dignitaries at the event included the Governor of Kwara State, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, and the Emir of Ilorin, Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, as well as traditional leaders, government officials, clerics, and business figures. Hundreds of horse riders thrilled the crowd with coordinated displays, while residents dressed in colourful traditional outfits filled the venue.
Heavy security was in place, with police, army, and civil defence officers deployed throughout the area. Organisers also installed CCTV cameras and prepared for about 500 horses to participate.
Speaking at the event, the Balogun Alanamu of Ilorin, Alhaji Usman Atolagbe, said the emirate represents unity among different ethnic groups.
He said: “Fulani, Yoruba, Nupe, Baruba, Hausa, Kanuri, Gobirawa and several other communities have continued to live together peacefully under the Ilorin Emirate structure.”
Another community leader, Alhaji Kabir Dogo, said the Durbar helps promote unity and boosts economic activities in Ilorin and Kwara State.
