23/03/2024
In the 14th century, the Oyo Palace Compound was established, and Oranyan, the first oba (king) of Oyo, was succeeded by Oba Ajaka, the Alaafin of Oyo. However, Ajaka was deposed due to his lack of Yoruba military virtue and his tolerance for too much independence among his sub-chiefs. Leadership was then transferred to Ajaka’s brother, Sango, who would later be deified as the deity of thunder and lightning. After Sango’s death, Ajaka was restored to the throne, and he returned as a more warlike and oppressive ruler. His successor, Kori, managed to conquer the rest of what historians would later refer to as metropolitan Oyo.
The heart of metropolitan Oyo was its capital, Oyo-Ile (also known as Katunga or Old Oyo or Oyo-oro). The city featured two essential structures: the ‘afin,’ which was the palace of the Oba, and the Oba’s market, known as ‘Oja-oba.’ The palace was situated at the center of the city, close to the Oba’s market, Oja-oba. The city was surrounded by a tall earthen wall with 17 gates, emphasizing the importance of the king in Oyo.
At one point, Oyo experienced a period of decline due to the Nupe occupation. Oyo had become a formidable inland power by the end of the 14th century, expanding at the expense of its neighboring states. However, during the reign of Onigbogi, Oyo suffered military defeats at the hands of the Nupe, led by Tsoede. Around 1535, the Nupe occupied Oyo, forcing its ruling dynasty to seek refuge in the kingdom of Borge. The Nupe’s occupation of the capital led to Oyo’s decline as a regional power until the early 17th century.
The Oyo Empire employed both local and tributary forces to expand its territory. The structure of the Oyo military underwent several changes to accommodate its growing empire. It included the Eso, a semi-standing army of specialist cavalry soldiers, consisting of 70 junior war chiefs appointed for their military skills. The Eso were led by the Aare-Ona-Kakanfo, who served as the supreme military commander. During Oyo’s imperial period, the Aare-Ona-Kakanfo personally led the army in the field during campaigns.
Within metropolitan Oyo, the Bashorun, a leading member of the Oyo Mesi, commanded forces. Metropolitan Oyo was divided into six provinces, each divided evenly by a river, and provincial forces were grouped into two armies, under the Onikoyi and the Okere for the east and west sides of the river, respectively. Lesser war chiefs were known as Balogun.
Tributary leaders and provincial governors were responsible for collecting tribute and contributing troops to the imperial army during emergencies. These forces were occasionally used in Oyo’s distant campaigns along the coast or against other states.
Commerce played a vital role in Oyo’s prosperity. It became the southern emporium of the Trans-Saharan trade, exchanging goods such as salt, leather, horses, kola nuts, ivory, cloth, and slaves. The Yoruba people of metropolitan Oyo were highly skilled in craft making and ironwork. In addition to trade taxes, Oyo derived wealth from taxes imposed on its tributaries. For instance, taxes on the kingdom of Dahomey alone brought in an estimated annual amount of 638 thousand dollars.
This historical account is sourced from the Oranyan Festival Brochure. Written by Samuel Oba for Medium
