NUBIA REPUBLIC
www.nubiarepublic.com

All through ages and civilizations,the world has witnessed muddy villages and tiny city-states filled mainly with farmers and fishermen,rise into great empires and civilizations,with super Socio-political structures and codes of governance\,which has been mimicked and practiced over the years by some of the greatest countries of our present age.Many of these empires lasted thousands of years before their eventual collapse,either
into smaller city states or into total oblivion.We have had several of these great Empires such as Babylon,Persia,Carthage,Arcadia,Egypt,Macedon and the Greeks,Rome,the Sumerians, and the Mythical Atlantis.Some of which still exist today but only in the shadows of its per-existing form and power such as Iran(formerly Persia), Iraq(formerly Babylon),and Turkey(Ottoman empire).

Unlike these great powers of old whose dominion spread all over Europe,Northern Africa,Asia minor and the Middle East,they were also mighty Empires all be it smaller ones which later sprouted all over the sub-Saharan part of Africa with equally potent Rulers who, through their great deeds and works,have left their marks on the sands of time.Our point of focus would be on the first ever recorded Yoruba empire known as the Oyo Empire.We shall quickly delve into its origin,social and political structure,economy,military might,crisis, and finally, its decline.

Ile-Ife, was said to be the first settlement of the founders of the various component part that made up the great Oyo Empire. Also,Oduduwa the progenitor and ancestor who was also the first king of the Yorubas settled at Ile-Ife.It was from this great land of origin that one of the sons of Okanbi,the child of Oduduwa founded Oyo and was the first Alaafin of Oyo.His name was Oranmiyan.

The Empire was situated in the savanna areas unlike the rest of the Yoruba lands which were situated deep into the jungles of West-Africa,and this made movements possible over a wide area of land.The land also made it possible for the importation of Horses,bows and arrows which enabled the establishment of the Empire.

The Oyo Empire had in place,one of the best system of governance.It was a system filled with checks and balances.The government was a centralized one and headed by the Alaafin(official title of the King),which is similar to a sort of hereditary presidential system in our modern age.Also,we have the “Oyomesi” which was a supreme council of seven men,who were kingmakers and they were headed by a “Basorun”,(Prime Minister)who was a very powerful man and he,along with the rest of the Oyomesi served as check and balance to the Alaafin’s power.The The Oyomesi was a necessary institution put in place to curb the the Alaafin from effectively maximizing his ever growing power either negatively or positively to his own advantage.They act more like a senate house with the Bashorun as the Senate President.

Furthermore,the Alaafin had other assistants such as the Eunuchs “Ona-Efa”(chief Justice), “Otun-Efa”(head of the Religious deities)and,the“Osi-Efa”(Finance Minister)who always dies with the Alaafins.This was a sort of mini kitchen cabinet.We also had the “Ilarins”and “Ajeles”who ruled the conquered villages.we could see them as Governor-Generals of colonies.Another of this created institutions was the “Ogboni”, which was headed by the “Olumo”.The Ogboni also served as a check on the influence of the Oyomesi,though a powerful Bashorun could successfully manipulate them such as in the case of the revered Bashorun Gaa.

The Army of the Empire was put in the charge of a very powerful Field Marshal known as the “Aare Ona Kakanfo”, and he had a war council that consisted of seventy war Chiefs called the “Esos” who were there to assist him on affairs of war.Should the Empire’s Army fall at the battlefield or lose a war,the Esos were banished from the Empire and the Aare Ona Kakanfo himself was forced to commit suicide.This stringent military factors and conditions made the Army a very disciplined and formidable brute force to reckon with which contributed highly to the expansion of the Empire.

Like many powerful Empires,the Economy of Oyo was mainly centered around Agriculture.The people of Oyo were Agriculturalist and the soil around Oyo was fertile for farming so, it enabled them to produce enough food for the people.Revenue was also accumulated from trades.The industrial skill of the people of Oyo also contributed to its growth in power and prosperity i.e dying,carving,weaving and,the decorative arts attracted trades from far and wide.The Empire traded with its neighbors such as the Nupes,Ekiti,Owus and,the Ijebus.Trade articles included Kola-nuts,cloths,salt and,Horses.The people of Oyo were famous craftsmen who engaged in the act of bronze and brass casting and painting.

It should be noted that Oyo was a commercial center on trade routes.The strategic position of the political capital enabled the empire to benefit from the Trans-Saharan trade routes through the Hausa-lands.Other sources of revenue included taxes and tributes to the empire from vassal states and conquered territories.From the 15th century,the Oyo Empire engaged in Trans-Atlantic slave-trade with the Europeans.

Generally,the rise of the Empire could be attributed to factors such as good and exemplary leadership provided by some of its rulers such as the case of Alaafin Oranmiyan,the founder was said to be a brave ruler.Later Rulers such as Sango,Orompoto,and the others were said to be fierce and powerful rulers.Another factor could be said to be the peace and tranquility enjoyed by the empire under the successive Alaafins.

Just as they rise;they also fall.Historically,it is agreed that the death of the Alaafin Abiodun marked the beginning of the end of Oyo’s greatness.There was also weakness of the central government due to strives between the Basorun and the Alaafin such as the case of Basorun Gaa and Alaafin Abiodun.Political instability was also an order of the day and this resulted in loss of economic wealth.The slave-Trade also brought its own share of negative influence.Another important factor which contributed to the decline of the empire was the start of series of revolts from the vassal states such as the Egbas and Dahomey.Perhaps,the final nail on the coffin was the rebellious attitudes of the Aare Ona Kakanfos such as the case of Afonja, who openly rebelled and ,through the help of his an Islamic cleric cum Jihadist known as Alimi,he successfully wagged war on his own Empire and Alaafin which was a taboo.

Finally,the Old Oyo Empire lasted between the 15th and 19th century.Apart from the Bornu Empire,the empire of Oyo was the most long-lived within the entire West-African Kingdoms and regions.



http://www.nubiarepublic.com/2019/06/ancient-civilizationsa-briefer-history.html