This was particularly true for the coastal areas which had a longstanding trade relationship with European sailing vessels. Ancient History Encyclopedia Limited is a non-profit company registered in the United Kingdom. The Old Oyo Empire was a vast and powerful force in the history of the Yoruba’s and Nigeria as a whole. (Oladayo, 2013). The '''Oyo Empire''' was a Yoruba empire of what is today Western and North central Nigeria. During the 17th century, Oyo began a long stretch of growth, becoming a major empire. Numerous educational institutions recommend us, including Oxford University and Michigan State University and University of Missouri. After 1730 CE, Dahomey consequently accepted the political authority of Oyo and the latter claimed some of the Dahomey coastal conquests, giving the empire its own direct access to the sea via the tributary state of Ajashe (aka Porto Novo). It is worth noting that although Old Oyo collapsed in 1830's, The Alaffin of Oyo was still recognized by some Yoruba states like Ibadan as the nominal head of all the former parts of the empire (sort of how the Japanese emperor was head of the state in Shogunate Japan but had little real influence) although in reality the Alaffin wielded little power outside his city. There are many myths and legends associated with the foundation of the Empire and the infiltration of Oduduwa into Ile-Ife. They re-established Oyo as more centralized and expansive than ever. At present very little is known about the early history of the state. We have also been recommended for educational use by the following publications: Ancient History Encyclopedia Foundation is a non-profit organization registered in Canada. Please note that content linked from this page may have different licensing terms. Dr Catel discusses the yoruba people, in particular the Oyo empire. Thus, until the collapse of the Oyo empire in the early 19th century, its dominance and commercial links with different parts of the world provided the basis for stability that protected Yorubaland from aggression or untoward experiences. Naturally, other regional powers were also anxious to control trade routes, notably the Kingdom of Dahomey to the west. Established in the 15th century, the Oyo Empire grew to become one of the largest West African states. Doubleday:New York, pp. For only $5 per month you can become a member and support our mission to engage people with cultural heritage and to improve history education worldwide. The Oyo Kingdom, as with other states of the Yoruba people in the southern coastal area of West Africa (modern Nigeria), claimed descent from an exiled king of Ife (11-15th century CE). The two protectorates joined in 1914 CE, became a federation in 1954 CE, and finally gained independence in 1960 CE. His special interests include pottery, architecture, world mythology and discovering the ideas that all civilizations share in common. Ancient History Encyclopedia Foundation is a non-profit organization. There was constant friction throughout the 18th century CE between those who wanted peaceful trade and those who favoured military expansion. During Alaafin Labisi’s reign, the old Oyo Empire, also known as Oyo-Ile, became so powerful and earned the respect of other kingdoms in Yorubaland. The area of what is today the state of Nigeria became a British colony in 1861 CE, and in 1900 CE the protectorates of North and South Nigeria were formed. Books Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Corrections? 191,192. The Nupe did conquer Old Oyo around 1535 CE and held onto it until the Oyo kings regained it around 1610 CE. It has increased due to the excellent organizational and administrative capacities of the … The kingdom of Oyo, also known as the Oyo Empire, is a West African monarchy, that at its peak, covered 270,000 square kilometres (1). This article was most recently revised and updated by, https://www.britannica.com/place/Oyo-empire, Oyo Kingdom - Children's Encyclopedia (Ages 8-11), Oyo Empire - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up). ISBN 0-333-59957-8 . Thank you! Although the Oyo did not form many large towns of note, rulers were able to forge a small empire thanks to their fearsome cavalry and archers - both a result of their commercial tentacles reaching as far north as the trans-Saharan trade routes. The Ancient History of the Old Oyo Empire. Unlike other Yoruba states, which were located in the forest area, Oyo was situated in woodland savannah. The Oyo state of the yorubas was the earliest and the largest of the four great kingdoms of west Africa. Interestingly, the Oyo also took cultural ideas, not just land from its rivals, notably adopting the prominent ancestor worship of the Nupe into their own religious practices. The people created a government that established its power over a vast empire. https://www.ancient.eu/Oyo_Empire/. This movement from Old Oyo to New Oyo effectively marked the end of the Oyo Empire. Culture is the totality of knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors shared by … He was said to have headed his brothers (other Yoruba kings) on an abortive expedition to the east to avenge the death of their father. The Oyo Empire might have achieved regional dominance but a much bigger power was slowly moving itself into position far to the north. History Of The Oyo Empire - Culture (2) - Nairaland. It stretched from parts of the Republic of Benin in the west to the southwest of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in the east. Please help us create teaching materials on Mesopotamia (including several complete lessons with worksheets, activities, answers, essay questions, and more), which will be free to download for teachers all over the world. Its inhabitants are mostly of the Yoruba people, and its ceremonial ruler is the Alaafin of Oyo. THE OYO EMPIRE. According to Wikipedia, the Oyo Empire was the Empire of Yoruba of what is now Western, northern central Nigeria and the northern part of the Fon kingdom in the present Benin Republic.Oyo was founded in the 15th century and became one of the largest West African kingdoms (states). … The Oyo Empire, with its capital at Old Oyo near the Niger River, prospered on regional trade and became a central facilitator in moving slaves from Africa’s interior to the coast and waiting European sailing ships. The original kingdom, which was one of the complex of Yoruba states, was founded by Oranyan, an Ife prince, who is also believed to be the founder of the present Benin dynasty.5 Oyo started to be important towards the end … It rose through the outstanding organizational and administrative skills of the Yoruba people, wealth gained from trade and its powerful cavalry. As Oyo’s wealth increased, so did its leaders’ political options; some wished to concentrate on amassing wealth, while others advocated the use of wealth for territorial expansion. The motivation for this territorial expansion was to gain control of the lucrative regional trade routes along which salt, gold, and slaves were transported. Oranmiyan made an agreement with his brother to launch a punitive raid on the northern neighbors for insulting their father Oba Oduduwa the first Ooni of lfe. About 1774 they gave the throne to a king, Abiodun, who escaped from their control and used provincial forces to establish royal authority…. The authority on Yoruba history, Professor Jacob Festus Adeniyi … Web. It expanded from the 16th to the 18th century to become the Oyo Empire, reaching its peak (around 47570km2) in the middle of the 18th century. Professor I.A. Retrieved from https://www.ancient.eu/Oyo_Empire/. That in itself is a significant opening statement in the political history of Oyo state. Of the seven Ibarapas (Ibarapa mejeje), this abode cannot be ignored. The Oyo provided the necessary command infrastructures to organize the movement of slaves from Africa's interior to the coast. Below are the kings who had ruled one of the greatest empire in history. The Oyo Kingdom, as with other states of the Yoruba people in the southern coastal area of West Africa (modern Nigeria), claimed descent from an exiled king of Ife (11-15th century CE). It was the most important and authoritative of all the early Yoruba principalities. Please support Ancient History Encyclopedia Foundation. Culture, Politics, and Money Among the Yoruba, Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike. The 18th century CE had already seen an expansion of the northern Islamic states who had embarked on a holy war to spread their faith. This second state became preeminent among all Yoruba states because of its favourable trading position, its natural resources, and the industry of its inhabitants. By the late 16th century CE, the Portuguese were joined by the British, French, and Dutch, eager to obtain a slice of the lucrative regional trade. The Oyo Empire flourished from the 17th to 19th century CE in what is today southwest Nigeria. Oyo like all African states on the coast engage in the slave trade. Oyo was invaded by the newly risen Fon of Dahomey, and soon after 1800 it was captured by militant Fulani Muslims from Hausaland in the northeast. THE OLD OYO EMPIRE From the 12th to the Late 18th century, the Oyo Empire grew to become the largest in West African. Despite an oral tradition that minimises the Oyo’s involvement in the slave trade, the Oyo Empire certainly used slaves within its own state structures - many officials in the administration and military, for example, were of slave origin - much more so than in other states in the region. This difference was not resolved until the alaafin Abiodun (reigned c. 1770–89) conquered his opponents in a bitter civil war and pursued a policy of economic development based primarily on the coastal trade with European merchants. Abiodun’s neglect of everything but the economy weakened the army, and thus the means by which the central government maintained control. The power of Oyo was already growing by the end of the century, however, thanks to the alaafin Orompoto, who used the wealth derived from trade to establish a cavalry force and to maintain a trained army. Page 1 of 50 - About 500 essays. Oyo rose to become the most important city state, surpassing Ife during the 1300s. From 1450 CE, the region prospered thanks to trade with such northern states as Hausaland (15-19th century CE) and, to the south, with Portuguese sailing vessels that plied the coast of West Africa. The Kingdom of Benin in the east was another formidable block to Oyo ambitions. Oranmiyan founded the Oyo nation after he had established the bini dynasty, making him the first Alaafin (ruler) of the Oyo kingdom. The same was true for the Ekiti who dwelt in the hills bordering the far northern stretch of Oyo lands. Written by Mark Cartwright, published on 02 April 2020 under the following license: Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike. Oranmiyan founded the Oyo nation after establishing the bini dynasty, making him the first Alaafin (ruler) of the Oyo kingdom. It's beginnings and structure. Shillington, Kevin (2005). April 21, 2020 Skillz ARTICLES 0. Cartwright, Mark. In return, the Oyo received European goods which they could use themselves or trade with neighbouring states. Oranmiyan was a very brave and warlike king. The consequence of this political decline for the Yoruba peoples was catastrophic as they had largely avoided being made slaves up to that point but were now by far the majority of those captured and shipped to the Americas until the slave trade ended here in the 1850s CE. Elements Of Cultural Culture In OYO 1141 Words | 5 Pages . Get exclusive access to content from our 1768 First Edition with your subscription. The trade in humanity was so large that this part of Africa became known simply as the ‘Slave Coast’. 24 Dec 2020. The Oyo kingdom is located in the south of the actual territory of Nigeria. By signing up for this email, you are agreeing to news, offers, and information from Encyclopaedia Britannica. c.1210– ORANYAN (Oranmiyan) Oyo-Ile was founded. Oyo art in general displays a striking resemblance to that of Ife and Benin. Imported goods included horses and goods from the Mediterranean which had crossed the Sahara via camel caravans and then travelled southwards across the savannah belt and down the River Niger. by UN Photo/Harandane Dicko (CC BY-NC-ND). The Oyo Empire was a Yoruba empire, and the Largest empire ever existed in West Africa, occupying most of what’s is today Southern Nigeria, expanding its territory to the nearby Republic of Benin. 2.1 ELEMENT OF CULTURAL HERITAGE IN OYO The concept of heritage connotes legacy from the past, what people live with today, and what they intend passing on to the future generations. Mark is a history writer based in Italy. The older traditions of the formerly dominant Ile-Ife kingdom are largely oral in nature. Oyo rose to become the most important city state, ... A History of West Africa. Oyo subjugated the kingdom of Dahomey in the west in two phases (1724–30, 1738–48) and traded with European merchants on the coast through the port of Ajase (now Porto-Novo). According to traditions, Oyo derived from a great Yoruba ancestor and hero, Oduduwa, who likely migrated to Ile-Ife and whose son became the first alaafin (alafin), or ruler, of Oyo. c.1210– ORANYAN (Oranmiyan) Oyo-Ile was founded. Oranmiyan was the first king and the founder of the Oyo empire. The documented history of the Yoruba people begins with the Oyo Empire, which became dominant in the early 17th century. It began in the 1300s in the West African savannah north of the tropical forests where other Yoruba peoples lived. THE HISTORY OF OLD OYO EMPIRE (OYO-ILE) WhatsApp us or visit our Website now THE PERIOD BEFORE 1500A.D The Oyo Alaafin is an integral portion of the Yoruba nation that descended from the historical figure, Oduduwa or Olofin. Omissions? Akinjogbin, the emeritus Professor of History put the situation as follows: “Up to about 1780, the Oyo Empire remained at the peak of its military strength. The old Oyo empire was a powerful force in the history of the yoruba race. By the 18th century CE half of the slaves taken from Africa came from the southern coast of West Africa, and the area controlled by the Oyo Empire, the Kingdom of Dahomey (c. 1600 - c. 1904 CE, modern Benin), and the Kingdom of Benin - the Bight of Benin - came to be widely known as simply the ‘Slave Coast’ (the ‘Gold Coast’, another lucrative trade hub, was further to the west). Below are the kings who had ruled one of the greatest empire in history. This situation and the loose control of vassal states meant that the Oyo Empire was really a house of cards awaiting the winds of change. History has it in profile that Alaafin Labisi collected tributes from faraway kingdoms of Dahomey, Popo and Ashanti even though his reign was very short, and more than half of the kingdoms and villages in Yorubaland (over 6000) fell under the political umbrella of … The Oyo eventually succumbed to the expanding Islamic states to the north, and by the mid-19th century CE, the empire had disintegrated into small rival chiefdoms. Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students. Iron-smelting technology permitted the production of iron tools and weapons while traded goods included kola nuts, pepper, ivory, gold and slaves. Gao & the Niger Riverby UN Photo/Harandane Dicko (CC BY-NC-ND). Early in the 16th century Oyo was a minor state, powerless before its northern neighbours Borgu and Nupe—by whom it was conquered in 1550. The Oyo territory came to encompass a real mix of environments with portions of rainforest, dry forest, savannah, and mangrove swamp. The Oyo Empire (1600 … Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. Of the 14 Kakanfo so far, the tenures of three of them who were military commanders considerably impacted the history of, first, the Old Oyo Empire, and by extension, the rest of Yorubaland. The storm duly came in the 1820s CE in the form of the militant Muslim Fulani and, ultimately, the northern part of the Oyo Empire, Ilorin, was conquered to become the Fulani Emirate of Ilorin, an outpost of the great Sokoto Caliphate (1804-1903 CE). The principal settlements of the Oyo were in and around Ife, the old capital of the Ife Kingdom, Old Oyo (aka Oyo Ile or Katunga), Kusu and Igboho. The Oyo Empire was the largest and the most powerful of the "forest states" of West Africa. The major … History of Oyo Town and Oyo Empire Oyo is a city in Oyo State, Nigeria, founded as the capital of the Oyo Kingdom in the 1830s and known to its people as 'New Oyo' (Ọyọ Atiba) to distinguish it from the former capital to the north, 'Old Oyo' (Ọyọ-Ile), which had been deserted as a result of rumors of war. As with the states which prospered throughout the second millennium CE in the region, the Oyo Empire exploited local resources such as okra, yams, dates, palm oil, and fish. The Fulani pressure on the northern Yoruba states resulted in a southward population movement, which generated most of the civil wars that plagued Yorubaland throughout the 19th century and completed the disintegration of the Oyo Empire. He was the son of Oduduwa. Library of Congress Card #66-24317. take a new look at the history of the Oyo Empire in the 18th century, and question the old view. This license lets others remix, tweak, and build upon this content non-commercially, as long as they credit the author and license their new creations under the identical terms. Oyo Empire(1600-1836) was a Yoruba empire, located in present day Nigeria and Benin. Linguistic evidence suggests that two waves of immigrants came into Yorubaland between 700 and 1000, the second settling at Oyo in the open country north of the Guinea forest. The origin of Oyo Empire lies with Oranmiyan, the second prince of the Yoruba Kingdom of lle-lfe. Ancient History Encyclopedia. Updates? The Oyo did not have everything their own way, however, as groups like the Ijesha inhabited forested areas where the Oyo cavalry could not be used effectively and the dangerous tsetse fly was present. Ancient History Encyclopedia, 02 Apr 2020. His successor, Alaafin Awole, inherited local revolts, an administration tenuously maintained by a complex system of public service, and a decline in the power of tributary chiefs. Being in the savannah proved beneficial, as Oyo could use horses, which were unable to live farther south (due to the tsetse fly). The Oyo Empire was a powerful Yoruba state in the modern country of Nigeria. Ancient History Encyclopedia. He was said to have headed his brothers (other Yoruba kings) on an abortive expedition to the east to avenge the death of their father. The result of this loss was a domino effect that saw the Oyo Empire breaking up into smaller states which led to further competition and warfare between them. "Oyo Empire." The Oyo Empire flourished for over three hundred years. History has it that the empire was created by Oranmiyan, the grandson of Oduduwa,. Last modified April 02, 2020. Oyo Empire. He holds an MA in Political Philosophy and is the Publishing Director at AHE. theories and related literature. The Kingdom of Benin, located in the southern forests of West Africa... West Africa was one of the world’s greatest producers of... Salt from the Sahara desert was one of the major trade goods of... A map indicating the major ancient and medieval states in sub-Saharan... A map of the Oyo Empire which flourished in what is today southern... A TIME OF TROUBLES: Itan - Legends of the Golden Age, Book Two. The decline was exacerbated by quarrels between the alaafin and his advisers; it continued throughout the 18th century and into the 19th, when Oyo began to lose control of its trade routes to the coast. Established by Oranmiyan of the Yoruba people of West Africa, Oyo quickly grew to become one of the most powerful states in the Yoruba-speaking region. Oyo never encompassed all Yoruba-speaking people, but it was the most populous kingdom in Yoruba history. Some Rights Reserved (2009-2020) under Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike license unless otherwise noted. Cartwright, M. (2020, April 02). Through this process of cultural transfer, the Oyo inherited a long cultural tradition which stretched right back the Nok Culture of ancient Nigeria (5th century BCE to 2nd century CE). …century the northernmost Yoruba kingdom, Oyo, began to turn away from its traditional rivalry with the adjacent savanna kingdoms of Nupe and Borgu and to use its cavalry to assert control of the trade routes through the open country southwestward to the small Aja states on the coast in which…, At Oyo the traditional town chiefs, who commanded the army of the capital, converted the kings into puppets during the 1750s and ’60s. Although archaeology has yet to discover concrete connections between the various successive states of what is today Nigeria, oral traditions, such as those in the Kingdom of Benin (13-19th century CE), located just to the east of Oyo, tell of a king of Ife who not only sent a prince to rule other areas of the region but also sent a mast… Oranmiyan was the first king and the founder of the Oyo empire. Oyo Empire. This great Empire was established in the 15th Century by Oranmiyan, grandson of Oduduwa (known as the father of the Yoruba’s). The Oyo benefitted most from the savannah regions, which facilitated easy movement and trade contacts with neighbouring states. Consequently, the kingdom expanded to include areas of the southwest and, in the savannah to the north, it acquired territory from its neighbours the Borgu and Nupe states. Both the Owu in the south and Ede to the southeast became vassal states of Oyo as the empire reached its peak from the first half of the 17th century CE, eventually conquering 13 rival kingdoms. The role, position, and relevance of the Alaafins in the colonial and postcolonial arrangement have equally proved remarkable in nation-building and … Our latest articles delivered to your inbox, once a week: Our mission is to engage people with cultural heritage and to improve history education worldwide. The first Oni of Ife was Oduduwa who gave birth to … There were two main reasons why the slave trade centred here: firstly it was one of the most densely populated areas of Africa reachable by the Europeans, and secondly, the Oyo Empire, and to an even greater extent the Kingdom of Dahomey, provided the necessary command infrastructures to organize the movement of slaves from the interior to the coast. Wooden Figure, Oyo Empireby The British Museum (CC BY-NC-SA). This electronic bookcontains fifty (50) pages of History about Lanlate, one of the oldest, most noble and popular towns in Oyo State dating back to the era of the Old Oyo Empire” (Oyo-Ile). In oral traditions, the founder of the Oyo state was one Oranmiyan (aka Oranyan), son of Oduduwa, the founder of Ife. Oyo Empire (1600-1836) was a Yoruba empire, located in present day Nigeria and Benin. Cite This Work New York: Palgrave Macmillan, pp. 1700 (CC BY-SA 3.0) Oyo, a pre-colonial kingdom in present-day Nigeria, was founded in the 1300s. Oranmiyan was a very brave and warlike king. Oyo empire, Yoruba state north of Lagos, in present-day southwestern Nigeria, that dominated, during its apogee (1650–1750), most of the states between the Volta River in the west and the Niger River in the east. The Oyo Empire was a Yoruba empire, and the Largest empire ever existed in West Africa, occupying most of what’s is today Southern Nigeria, expanding its territory to the nearby Republic of Benin. Although the Fulani intrusion into Ilorin largely contributed to the collapse of the. The Yoruba of Oyo went through an interregnum of 80 years as an exiled dynasty after its defeat by the Nupe. Oyo empire was a yoruba empire covering distance over the southwest zone and the western half of northcentral zone of the today Nigeria. The Ancient History Encyclopedia logo is a registered EU trademark. Law, Robin(1977). Although archaeology has yet to discover concrete connections between the various successive states of what is today Nigeria, oral traditions, such as those in the Kingdom of Benin (13-19th century CE), located just to the east of Oyo, tell of a king of Ife who not only sent a prince to rule other areas of the region but also sent a master craftsman to spread his sculptural skills. He was the son of Oduduwa. An impressive carved granite column from Ife stands 5.5 metres (18 ft.) tall and is known as the Opa Oranmiyan or ‘staff of Oranmiyan’. History of Africa. A map of the Oyo Empire which flourished in what is today southern Nigeria from the 17th to 19th century CE. These invasions, reaching ever further south by the 19th century CE, caused severe disruption to Oyo’s trade and highlighted the inherent weakness in the Oyo political setup. Oyo Empire and surrounding states, ca. The power of Oyo was already growing by the end of the century, however, thanks to the alaafin Orompoto, who used the wealth derived from trade to establish a cavalry force and to maintain a trained army. The Oyo empire grew to be the largest of the Yoruba states, it rose through the outstanding organisational and administratyive skill of the Yoruba people. The Oyo king, the Alafin, had already been in conflict with both the state’s ruling council of elders, the Oyo Mesi, and the military leader, the bashorun (who also led the Oyo Mesi). The origins Of Oyo lie with … License. Ogbomoso stands at the confluence of several historical juncture, from Yoruba to Nigeria. Oyo and Dahomey were at war between 1726 and 1730 CE, a conflict which the Oyo Empire eventually won. Nairaland Forum / Nairaland / General / Culture / History Of The Oyo Empire (34116 Views) Lies About Oyo Empire / Yoruba's After The Fall Of Oyo Empire / Oyo Empire - 1300CE (2) Re: History Of The Oyo Empire by sammyjay3(m): 1:50pm On Jul 03, 2014; koastar: Where are you getting your history from? Cartwright, Mark. "Oyo Empire." From its capital city at Oyo- Ile, this weak state in the early 1500s, had by 1550 conquered two neighboring … Early in the 16th century Oyo was a minor state, powerless before its northern neighbours Borgu and Nupe—by whom it was conquered in 1550. The Oyo forged an empire thanks to their formidable cavalry units and so came to dominate other Yoruba peoples of the region. The little that is known is gleaned mostly from Yoruba legends and traditions. Related Content Revised 2nd ed. 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