4.6 Decline of Oyo Flashcards
What marked the beginning of the Oyo Empire’s downfall?
The end of the 18th century
Who is believed to have killed Abiodun?
His son and successor, Awole
What event in 1796 significantly weakened the Oyo Empire?
Awole was ousted by an Ilorin-centered revolt initiated by Afonja
Who was Afonja?
The Are Ona Kakamfo who backed the coup against Awole
What was the consequence of Afonja’s revolt?
The secession of Ilorin, a Yoruba state
What was Afonja’s strategy to maintain Ilorin’s independence?
He invited Fulani scholar Alim al-Salih to secure support
How long did Adebo reign before his death?
130 days
What was the fate of Alafin Maku?
He reigned for 2 months and was rejected by the Oyo mesi
What led to the rise of provincial independence in Oyo?
Political intrigue and internal strife weakened central authority
What did King Gezo of Dahomey do to the Oyo envoys?
He had them beheaded after sending a token tribute
What significant event happened in 1835?
Oyo-Ile was razed by the Fulani Empire
Who was the last alafin of Oyo?
Oluewu
What caused the breakdown of central authority in Oyo?
Civil strife and an economic crisis
What constitutional mistake did Alafin Awole make?
Attacking Apomu in Ife territory
Who led the campaign against Alafin Awole’s authority?
Are Afonja
What role did the basorun play in the Oyo government?
He had the prerogative to reject an alafin and acted as regent
What was a major cause of the decline of the Oyo Empire according to some historians?
Weakness in the constitution of the central government
Fill in the blank: The political system of Oyo involved an uneasy balance between the alafin and the _______.
Oyo mesi
True or False: The Oyo army remained strong throughout the decline of the empire.
False
What was the significance of the year 1818 in the context of Oyo’s decline?
Dahomey revolted against Oyo
What did Alafin Abiodun’s actions lead to regarding the power of the basorun?
His downfall was a tribute to the system of checks and balances
What was the effect of the rise of powerful neighbors like Dahomey and Nupe on Oyo?
They contributed to the decline of the Oyo Empire
What was the political structure of Oyo designed to prevent?
The alafin from becoming a tyrant
What did the chiefs do after Awole’s death?
They began to declare themselves independent of Oyo
What led to the mutiny of the Oyo army?
Awole’s campaign against Iwereile
How did provincial rulers gain independence during the decline of Oyo?
They capitalized on the internal struggles of the capital
What was the consequence of the chaos in the Oyo capital?
Provincial towns sought their own independence
What was the relationship between the alafin and the Oyo mesi?
A balance of power that often led to tensions
Fill in the blank: The Oyo Empire collapsed in _______.
1836
What did the Oyo provinces do in response to the decline of central authority?
They pressed for independence
Who were the leading chiefs in declaring independence from Oyo?
Afonja and Opele
Afonja’s base was at Ilorin, and Opele was the Bale of Gbogun.
What event led to the collapse of Oyo’s authority over provincial towns?
The internal troubles of the capital
Basorun Gaha’s takeover of administration triggered political struggles.
Who took over the administration of the kingdom from the alafin?
Basorun Gaha
What was the result of the misgovernment by Gaha’s kinsmen?
Enabled Abiodun to raise towns in revolt against Gaha
What role did the Are Ona Kakamfo play in Oyo’s politics?
Ultimate arbiters of metropolitan politics
What significant political event occurred around 1796?
Intervention by provincial rulers to overthrow an unpopular alafin
True or False: The political division in the capital allowed provincial rulers to assert power.
True
What external threat complicated the internal struggles of the Oyo empire?
The Fulani jihad
What was Afonja’s main ambition during the rebellion?
To carve out an empire for himself
Who was Chief Opele and what happened to him?
Chief Opele was an ally of Afonja who died in defense of rebellion against loyalists
What could have been the outcome of the rebellion without external aid?
The royalist party probably winning
Who did Afonja invite to strengthen his rebellion?
Alimi, a Fulani priest
Fill in the blank: Afonja’s army was commanded by _______.
Solagberu
What was a significant factor in the success of the jihadist forces?
Better training and discipline
What happened to Oyo’s central authority during Afonja’s reign?
It broke down
What was the war of Eleduwe?
The conflict where Oluewu, the last alafin, was killed
What was a key characteristic of the Yoruba forces defending Oyo?
Badly organized
What did the jihadists use to spread dissension among the Yoruba?
Intelligence agents
What period is attributed to the beginning of Oyo’s decline?
When Alafin Awole was overthrown around 1796
True or False: The internal crisis at Oyo’s periphery significantly affected the political administration.
False
What did the jihad achieve by 1808?
Overthrew the Hausa states
Who held the title of Are Ona Kakamfo?
Afonja
What ultimately led to the disintegration of central authority in Oyo?
A constitutional crisis pitting Ilorin against the capital
