The Oyo Empire

   

   The story of the Oyo Empire lies on Oranyan (also known as Oranmiyan),He made an agreement with his brother to launch a a raid on their neighbors for insulting their father Oduduwa,the first Ooni of Ife. On their way to battle,the brothers had a quarrel and the army split, Oranyans troop was too small to make a successful fight, so he wandered the southern shore until reaching Bussa,there the local chiefs entertained him and provide him with a Big snake and a magical charm on its throat.

     The chiefs instructed Oranyan to follw the snake untill it stopped and disappeared into the ground,Oranyan folowed the advice and founded Oyo where the serpent stopped,this site is called Ajaka,Oranmiyan made Oyo empire his new kingdom and became the first Alafin of the Oyo empire, which the Alaafin means:the owner of the palace"

 At some point the oyo empire was at war with the Bariba of Borgu who want to subjugate the new city under construction. Orangun Ajagunla of Ila,Oranmiyan's elder brother came in with his troop to assist,not long after the war was won,Oranmiyan welcomed a son Ajuwon Ajaka,much later Arabambi was born by the woman from Tapa (Nupe).
 Oranyan who was the first Alaafin of Oyo,was later succeded by his son Ajaka,he was deposed because he lacked Yoruba military virtue which he gave his chiefs too much independence. Leadership was then later conferred upon Ajaka's brother,Sango which the name was believed to have adopted the name from a local name For the God of Thunder,Ajaka was later restored after the death of sango.  

Ajaka’s successor Kori managed to conquer the rest of what historian’s referred to as the metropolitan oyo. The heart of metropolitan oyo was the capital of oyo-lle (which is known as katunga or old oyo or oyo oro). The two most relevant structures in Oyo-lle were the Alaafin palace and his market. The palace was at the center of the city close to Oba’s market called ‘Oja-oba’. Around the capital of oyo-lle was a tall earthen wall for defense with 17 gates. The relevant of the two structures signifies the importance of it to the king. In 1535 Nupe occupied Oyo and forced its ruling dynasty to take refuge in the kingdom of Borgu. Oyo went through 80 years exile dynasty after their defeat from Nupe. They re-established Oyo Empire as more centralized and expansive than ever. They created a government that established its power over a vast empire. In 17^th century they began a long stretch of growth, they never embraced all Yoruba speaking people, but they where the most populous kingdom in Yoruba history.

    Taking a cue from their Nupe enemies whom they called “Tapa”, they rearmed with armor and cavalry. Oba Ofinran, Alaafin of Oyo succeeded in regaining Oyo’s original territory from Nupe. When the new capital was constructed (Oyo-Igboho) the original one then became known as old Oyo Empire. The new Oba of Oyo-Igoho Oba Egunoju conquered all the Yoruba land after that, Oba Orompoto led attacks to obliterate the Nupe to ensure Oyo never threatened by then again. During the reign of Oba Ajiboyede he held the first Bere festival an event to celebrate peace in the kingdom and that remained after the fall of Oyo Empire. Alaafin who was the supreme overlord of the people was not without checks on his power. The Oyo Mesi and Yoruba Earth cult known as Ogboni kept the Oba’s power in check. The Oyo Mesi spoke for politicians while Ogboni spoke for the people backed by power of religion. Alaafin power in relation to Oyo Mesi and Ogboni depends on his personnel character and political astuteness.