Oyo Empire

E55734

The Oyo Empire was a powerful pre-colonial West African Yoruba state known for its sophisticated political system, cavalry-based military strength, and extensive regional trade influence.

Aliases (2)

Statements (49)
Predicate Object
instanceOf Yoruba state
historical polity
pre-colonial African empire
alternativeName Old Oyo Empire
capital Oyo-Ile
checkOnRoyalPower Ogboni council
Oyo Mesi council
culturalLegacy Shango worship traditions
Yoruba political titles and institutions
economyBasedOn agriculture
long-distance trade
slave trade
endTime 19th century
ethnicGroup Yoruba people
fellTo Fulani jihads influence in Ilorin region
internal civil wars
governmentType monarchy
hadVassalState Dahomey (for part of its history)
Egba towns
Ibarapa region
hasOffice Are Ona Kakanfo
Bashorun
Ogboni council
Oyo Mesi
hasRulerTitle Alaafin
influenced Yoruba city-states
political institutions in southwestern Nigeria
knownFor cavalry-based military
regional trade influence
sophisticated political system
tributary system over neighboring states
legalSystem customary Yoruba law
locatedIn West Africa
present-day Nigeria
majorDeity Ifa
Shango
militaryStrength cavalry
infantry
peakPeriod 17th century
18th century
religion Yoruba religion
startTime c. 14th century
successionRule hereditary kingship with checks by Oyo Mesi
tradedWith Dahomey
European coastal traders
Hausaland
Nupe
usedCurrency cowries
manillas


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