Oyo Empire

Oyo Empire Orílẹ̀ Ọba Ọ̀yọ́ (Yoruba)
c. 1300–1896 [citation needed]
Oyo Empire during the 17th–18th centuries
Status	Empire
Capital	Oyo-Ile (1300–1535); (1600–1896) Oyo-Igboho (1600)
Common languages	Yoruba
Religion	Yoruba religion, Islam, Christianity
Government	Elective Monarchy
Alaafin
• c. 1300	Oranmiyan
• ????–1896	Adeyemi I Alowolodu
Legislature	Oyo Mesi and Ogboni
Area
1680[1]	150,000 km2 (58,000 sq mi)
Preceded by Succeeded by Ife Empire Ilorin Emirate Ibadan
Today part of	Yorubaland · Nigeria · Benin

House of Oranyan
Nigerian royal dynasty
Parent house	Oodua
Current region	Yorubaland
Founded	c. 13th century
Founder	Oranyan
Current head	Interregnum
Titles	Oba Alaafin of Oyo Oba Obirin of Oyo Iba Bashorun of Oyo Iba Aare Ona Kakanfo of Oyo Iba of Oyo Oloye of Oyo Omoba of Oyo Oloori of Oyo
Style(s)	Kabiyesi Majesty Imperial Highness
Members	Abiodun Oluyole Candido da Fonseca Galvao
Connected families	Ife royal family Bini royal family
Traditions	Ifá Christianity Islam
Motto	A ki ro'ba fi la le de Oyo, o ya e je a lo ree Alaafin (Yoruba for "Oyo, Descendants of the Alaafin")
Cadet branches	Alowolodu (Oyo) Agunloye (Oyo) Oluyole (Ibadan) Ona Aka (Oyo) Afonja (Ilorin)

The Oyo Empire was a Yoruba empire in West Africa. It was located in present-day southern Benin and western Nigeria (including the South West zone 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 mid-17th to the late 18th century^[2] 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.