OLD OYO KINGDOM

The old Oyo kingdom, often referred to as the largest and most prominent of the Yoruba states, was located in the savannah region below the Niger River bend, specifically in the Bussa-Jebba area of southwestern Nigeria. The kingdom rose to power in the 17th and 18th centuries but ultimately collapsed in the early 19th century. The kingdom's early history and origins are largely shrouded in myths and legends, which complicates attempts to provide a clear historical account of its development. This lack of concrete historical evidence has led some scholars to conclude that the early history of Oyo is "beyond meaningful enquiry."

Two key challenges arise when reconstructing the early history of Oyo: the kingdom's origins are tied to both the settlement of the Yoruba people in their current region and the formation of their early state structures. Traditional accounts, which contain much of the information about these early periods, have remained largely unchanged since Samuel Johnson's publication of The History of the Yorubas in 1921. This work has influenced much of the subsequent scholarship on the subject, with many later accounts relying heavily on Johnson's findings. To begin any exploration of Oyo’s early history, it is crucial to examine the impact of Johnson's work, his sources, and his intentions, wherever these can be traced.

In 1901, a man from Iiebu felt compelled to assert the significance of Ife over Oyo in Yoruba history:

"I deny that Oyo is the capital city of Yoruba land. Ife, the ancestral home of all Yoruba people and the sacred land of Oduduwa, has been universally recognized as the capital by all interior tribes, including Benin and Ketu."

This statement underscores the ongoing debates about the historical and cultural significance of Ife in relation to Oyo.

Source: Manasseh Lorwongur