Oyo

Oyo was a Yoruba kingdom based at Oyo-Ile. Tradition attributed its foundation around 1300 to Oranmiyan, the first Alaafin, and remembered his son Shango as a thunder god.

Around 1535 the Nupe sacked Oyo-Ile and drove the dynasty into exile in Borgu. The restored kingdom built a cavalry empire and forced Dahomey to pay tribute in 1748. Factional conflict weakened Oyo: the general Afonja broke away at Ilorin in 1817, and Ilorin forces destroyed Oyo-Ile in 1835, sending the court to Ago d'Oyo.