4.0 Origins of Oyo and Dahomey Flashcards
What were the origins of Oyo and Dahomey?
Oyo and Dahomey originated from migrations and settlements in the region, with Oyo founded by Oranmiyan and Dahomey emerging from the Allada kingdom.
Which of the following was a more significant reason for the rise of the Kingdom of Oyo in the early seventeenth century?
Leadership of individual Alafins and the use of cavalry.
What was the capital of Oyo?
Oyo-Ile.
Fill in the blank: The _______ was a thrusting-spear carried by Oyo cavalrymen.
Oko.
What was the primary role of the Basorun in Oyo?
Head of the Oyo Mesi and chief military advisor.
True or False: Oyo and Dahomey were protected from coastal raids by geographical features.
True.
What were the eight provinces of Oyo?
Three to the west of River Ogun and three to the east along with Ekun osi.
What major trading port was located in Whydah?
A significant trading port for the region.
Fill in the blank: The _______ was the highest-ranking guardian of the wives and children of the Alafin.
Eru Oba.
What was the significance of the Iwefa in Oyo?
Dealt with collecting revenue.
Name one festival celebrated in Oyo.
Mole festival, Orun festival, or Bere festival.
Who founded the Kingdom of Dahomey?
Houegbadja.
What was the role of the Yovogan in Dahomey?
Chief office in charge of Whydah.
What was the period when Oyo faced military defeats due to Nupe invasions?
Sometime around 1535.
What was one main reason for Oyo’s economic success?
Wealth from taxes, tribute, and the slave trade.
What event marked the peak of Oyo’s power in the 18th century?
The reign of Alafin Abiodun (1774-89).
Fill in the blank: Dahomey was a tributary to Oyo during the _______.
Second half of the C18.
What was the relationship between Oyo and Dahomey?
Oyo was more powerful but Dahomey retained enough power to expand and trade with Europeans.
What was a significant trade item for Dahomey in the 18th century?
Slaves sold to Europeans.
What was the significance of the city of Ife-Ife to the Yoruba people?
It is considered the spiritual heartland of the Yoruba peoples.
Fill in the blank: The _______ was the period of internal conflict in Oyo leading to its decline.
Civil war.
Who was Agaja in the context of Dahomey?
Dahomian king who expanded territory and trade.
What was the main external threat to Oyo during the 18th century?
Jihad from the north.
What was a key factor in the decline of Oyo?
Internal disputes and civil war.
What role did cavalry play in Oyo’s military strategy?
Cavalry was effectively used to expand territory and suppress threats.
What was the significance of the trade routes for Oyo?
They facilitated trade with Hausaland and European nations.
Fill in the blank: The _______ was a cult established to support the retention of power by Oyo-Ile.
Sango priests.
What city is considered the spiritual heartland of the Yoruba peoples?
Ife-Ife
Yoruba peoples claim their origins from Ife-Ife.
Who was Oranmiyan?
Second prince of the Yoruba Kingdom of Ile-Ife
He founded Oyo after following a magical snake.
What title did Oranmiyan hold after founding Oyo?
Alafin of Oyo
Alafin means ‘owner of the palace’ in Yoruba.
Who succeeded Oranmiyan as the ruler of Oyo?
Ajaka
Ajaka was deposed for lacking military virtue.
What was the result of Ajaka’s deposition?
Leadership was conferred upon his brother, Shango
Shango was later deified as the deity of thunder and lightning.
What led to the initial rise of the Oyo kingdom?
Trade with trans-Saharan Arab merchants and military conquests
Oyo fought for supremacy against the Nupe kingdom.
What significant event occurred around c1535 involving Oyo?
Nupe occupied Oyo, forcing its dynasty into exile
This exile lasted about 80 years.
What was the capital of the Oyo kingdom?
Oyo-Ile
Oyo-Ile is also known as Old Oyo.
What were the two most important structures in Oyo-Ile?
The afin (palace of the Oba) and Oja-oba (the King’s market)
The palace was central to the city.
How was the society of Oyo structured?
Patrilineal society with allegiance to father’s lineage group (idile)
Towns consisted of large family compounds.
When did Dahomey rise to power?
Early C18, founded around c1620
Dahomey emerged during a period of regional instability.
What was the main occupation in Dahomey?
Agriculture
Industries included cotton spinning, cloth weaving, wood carving, and iron works.
Who were the major trading partners of Allada?
Dutch, French, and Portuguese
Allada sold cloth, ivory, and enslaved Africans.
What was the political relationship between the kingdoms in the region?
Interdependent but with weak central authority
Kings regarded one another as ‘brothers’.
What was a key factor in Dahomey’s political organization?
Rejection of traditional social theory
Dahomey founded a kingdom based on individual service to the king.
What did the Dahomians call their kings?
Dada
Dada means father.
What concept did the founders of Dahomey use to describe their political system?
The state was a perforated pot
The king was the water needed to stay in the pot.
What was the first major military action taken by Oyo against Allada?
First expedition against Allada between 1680 and 1682
Oyo’s actions aimed to exert influence over Allada.
Who was the first king of Dahomey?
Wegbaja
He expanded Dahomey significantly during his reign.
What was the outcome of Agaja’s conquests in the early 18th century?
He conquered Allada and Whydah
This strengthened Dahomey’s position in regional politics.
