Oyo Empire
Oyo Empire | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| c. 1570 – c. 1836 | |||||||||||||
Oyo Empire during the 17th–18th centuries | |||||||||||||
| Status | Empire[A] | ||||||||||||
| Capital |
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| Common languages | Yoruba | ||||||||||||
| Religion | Yoruba religion, Islam, Christianity | ||||||||||||
| Government | Constitutional Hereditary Monarchy with Elective features. | ||||||||||||
| Alaafin | |||||||||||||
• ????–1896 | Adeyemi I Alowolodu | ||||||||||||
| Legislature | Oyo Mesi and Ogboni | ||||||||||||
| Area | |||||||||||||
| 1680 | 150,000 km2 (58,000 sq mi) | ||||||||||||
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| Today part of | Yorubaland · Nigeria · Benin | ||||||||||||
| House of Oranyan | |
|---|---|
| Nigerian royal dynasty | |
| Parent house | Oodua |
| Current region | Yorubaland |
| Founded | c. 17th century |
| Current head | Abimbola Owoade |
| Titles | |
| Style(s) | Kabiyesi Majesty Imperial Highness |
| Members | |
| Connected families | Ife royal family Bini royal family |
| Traditions | Ifá Christianity Islam |
| Motto | A kii r'oba fin l'alede Oyo, o ya e je a loo re Alaafin (Yoruba for "Oyo, Descendants of the Alaafin") |
| Cadet branches | |
The Oyo Empire was a Yoruba empire in West Africa. It was located in present-day western Nigeria (including the South West zone, Benin Republic, and the western half of the North Central zone). The empire grew to become the largest Yoruba-speaking state through the organizational and administrative efforts of the Yoruba people, trade, as well as the military use of cavalry. The Oyo Empire was one of the most politically important states in Western Africa from the late-16th to the early 18th century and held sway not only over most of the other kingdoms in Yorubaland, but also over nearby African states, notably the Fon Kingdom of Dahomey in the modern Republic of Benin on its west.