Oyo Empire

The Rise of Oyo The position of Oyo was one of the reasons for its rise to power. The soil around Old Oyo was very fertile for farming. Not only that, its position along the trade route and as a leading commercial centre, south of the Niger, was also an advantage. Trade routes connected Oyo with many important markets in those days. It was at a terminus where products of the guinea forest were sold to the people of the Savana. In addition to being at the Savana terminus of the trans-Saharan trade, Oyo also traded with the Europeans at the coast through Porto Novo. Its situation at the savana belt made expansion easy. Iron ore was also available. It was not the mere existence of geographical advantage that contributed to the rise and growth of Oyo. The people made very good use of the geographical advantages. The trade routes were protected. The industrial skill of the people also enhanced the growth of the empire: their skill in weaving, dyeing, carving and decorated arts attracted traders from far and wide. The Oyo also had knowledge of iron working, made and used good tools and weapons. During the reign of Alafin Orompoto, horses were first imported into Oyo. This formed the basis of the political power of Oyo. Oyo had a large cavalry which made Oyo the scourge and terror of most of her neighbours and with which it fought wars of expansion. The leadership and valour of Oyo warriors also contributed to the military's effectiveness. The Are-Ona-Kaka-nfo was the commander in chief of the army. By tradition, he lived in a frontier province of strategic importance to prevent foreign attack on the capital. This also prevented him from interfering in central politics. The Eso (military lords or chiefs) were appointed by merit as a result of their skill and valour in war. Military leaders who won wars were honoured publicly, those who were defeated were disgraced: they would either commit suicide or go elsewhere to find a new state. This prevented the Are-Ona-Kakanfo or his officers from clinging to commands when their military ability was already in decline. With her cavalry and able military officers, Oyo became more powerful than Borgu and Nupe, conquered Sabe and Ketu, started to build up an empire and expanded southwards both sides of River Ogun. Through Porto Novo, it had direct access to the coastal trade. The constitution and central government of Oyo also contribute its rise. The constitution allowed the provinces to have local autonomy which was desirable in an age when means of transport and communication were inadequate and slow. The constitution also allowed conquered territories to be incorporated into the empire without disrupting the traditional power configuration in the conquered territories. The Alafin was the head of the empire but two important groups Council of state) and the Ogboni Society acted as limitations on the powers of the Alafin. They could not depose an Alafin but could ask him to commit suicide (if his rule was not in the interest of the empire) by sending the Bashorun to present an empty calabash or a dish of parrot's eggs to and pass a sentence of rejection on the Alafin in the following words. "The gods reject you" The people reject you; the earth rejects you" "The earth rejects you" (By tradition such Alafin must take poison and die). The above shows again that the political structure placed much premium on the success of the empire and those who fail must die so that the empire might survive. Ethnic homogeneity also contributed to the growth of Oyo empire. Most part of the empire had similar custom. They spoke the same language, regarded Ife as their spiritual home and Oduduwa as the founder of their race. Except the Ewe of Togo and the Aja states of Dahomey, the empire was made up of Yoruba speaking people. Ethnic homogeneity thus promoted unity that welded all the Yoruba speaking people together. was a stimulating reason for the growth of the empire. her.