2. Development of Oyo and Dahomey: Political

Question 1

What type of political system did Oyo have?

Answer 1

Federal system based out of the city of Oyo-Ile. (Date: 17th-18th centuries)

Question 2

What was Oyo-Ile in the Oyo Empire?

Answer 2

Capital city run by chiefs from three lineages: Aremo, Ona Isokun, and Baba Ijayi. (Date: 17th-18th centuries)

Question 3

How many provinces was Oyo divided into and what were they called?

Answer 3

Divided into eight provinces called ‘ekun’. (Date: 17th-18th centuries)

Question 4

Which provinces made up Metropolitan Oyo?

Answer 4

Ekun otun (three western provinces) and ekun osi (three eastern provinces). (Date: 17th-18th centuries)

Question 5

Which two provinces lay outside Metropolitan Oyo?

Answer 5

Igbomina and Egbado. (Date: 17th-18th centuries)

Question 6

What was the significance of the Egbado Corridor?

Answer 6

Linked Metropolitan Oyo to the coastline. (Date: 17th-18th centuries)

Question 7

How did Oyo control Ajaland and Yorubaland?

Answer 7

Looser control: Ajaland was very autonomous near Togo but paid tribute; Yorubaland had Obas swearing allegiance to the Alafin. (Date: 17th-18th centuries)

Question 8

What autonomy did provinces in Oyo have?

Answer 8

Autonomy over legal judgments while final authority rested with the Alafin. (Date: 17th-18th centuries)

Question 9

Who had final authority in provincial disputes in Oyo?

Answer 9

The Alafin, judging disputes between provinces. (Date: 17th-18th centuries)

Question 10

What tribute did provinces owe to Oyo’s suzerainty?

Answer 10

Annual tribute of asingba (cowrie shells, roofing grass, provisions) and soldiers for the Oyo army. (Date: 17th-18th centuries)

Question 11

What centralization attempts occurred in Oyo during the 1700s?

Answer 11

Alafin installed ajele in provinces to collect taxes; granted fiefs to palace officials instead of local chiefs. (Date: 1700s)

Question 12

What were ‘ajeIe’ in Oyo?

Answer 12

Personal representatives of the Alafin in provincial towns who collected taxes. (Date: 1700s)

Question 13

How did the granting of fiefs in Oyo change power dynamics?

Answer 13

Fiefs given to palace officials rather than local chiefs, increasing centralization. (Date: 1700s)

Question 14

What was the center of government in Oyo?

Answer 14

The palace, where the Alafin’s staff carried out administration and ceremonial tasks. (Date: 17th-18th centuries)

Question 15

Who were the Eru Oba in Oyo?

Answer 15

The Alafin’s officials known as King’s slaves. (Date: 17th-18th centuries)

Question 16

What role did Iwefa eunuchs play in Oyo government?

Answer 16

Highest-ranking officials stripped of kinship ties, guarding the Alafin’s family and handling administrative, legal, tax, law, and religious matters. (Date: 17th-18th centuries)

Question 17

What was the role of the Osi Iwefa?

Answer 17

Collected revenues and dealt with Oyo chiefs. (Date: 17th-18th centuries)

Question 18

What was the role of the Ona Iwefa?

Answer 18

Handled legal decisions of the Alafin. (Date: 17th-18th centuries)

Question 19

What was the role of the Otun Iwefa?

Answer 19

Handled religious and ritual roles. (Date: 17th-18th centuries)

Question 20

Who formed the royal bodyguard in Oyo?

Answer 20

The Ilari, who were slaves. (Date: 17th-18th centuries)

Question 21

What was the position of the crown prince (Aremo) in Oyo?

Answer 21

Initially successor to the Alafin, but in later period often forced to commit suicide upon his father’s death. (Date: 17th-18th centuries)

Question 22

What was the Oyo Mesi?

Answer 22

Advisory council to the Alafin consisting of seven principal chiefs. (Date: 17th-18th centuries)

Question 23

Who led the Oyo Mesi?

Answer 23

The Basorun. (Date: 17th-18th centuries)

Question 24

How many chiefs comprised the Oyo Mesi and can you name their count?

Answer 24

Seven chiefs: Basorun plus six: Agbakin, Samu, Alapini, Laguna, Akiniku, Asipa. (Date: 17th-18th centuries)

Question 25

What powers did the Oyo Mesi hold?

Answer 25

Ran government of cities and military; approval needed to install Alafins and could depose them. (Date: 17th-18th centuries)

Question 26

How often were Alafins deposed or assassinated in the 17th-18th centuries?

Answer 26

Nine Alafins in that period. (Date: 17th-18th centuries)

Question 27

What happened in the 1730s regarding the Oyo Mesi and the Alafin?

Answer 27

Oyo Mesi rejected Alafin Ojigi. (Date: 1730s)

Question 28

What occurred in 1754 in Oyo politics?

Answer 28

Basorun Gaha seized power himself. (Date: 1754)

Question 29

What occurred in 1774 in Oyo politics?

Answer 29

Basorun Gaha was overthrown by Abiodun. (Date: 1774)

Question 30

What was the Orun festival’s political role?

Answer 30

Occasion for Basorun to present the Alafin with an empty gourd if he was to be deposed and forced to commit ritual suicide. (Date: 17th-18th centuries)

Question 31

What was the Ogboni society in Oyo?

Answer 31

Aristocratic 'Earth cult', secret society of aristocrats with religious legitimacy influencing politics. (Date: 17th-18th centuries)

Question 32

What judicial role did Ogboni have?

Answer 32

Could judge affairs of violence and had right of access to the Alafin. (Date: 17th-18th centuries)

Question 33

How did Ogboni represent ordinary people in Oyo?

Answer 33

Acted as conduit for popular opinion and represented rights and interests of ordinary people. (Date: 17th-18th centuries)

Question 34

What type of political system did Dahomey have?

Answer 34

More centralized system. (Date: 18th century)

Question 35

What was the Ahosu in Dahomey?

Answer 35

The king who had absolute power. (Date: 18th century)

Question 36

Who could build a house of more than one storey in Dahomey?

Answer 36

Only the Ahosu and Europeans. (Date: 18th century)

Question 37

How was the successor to the Ahosu chosen?

Answer 37

Chosen by the Ahosu from among his sons. (Date: mid-18th century)

Question 38

What happened in 1740 regarding the Dahomey succession?

Answer 38

Tegbusu eliminated his rivals so the Ahosu was the sole power centre. (Date: 1740)

Question 39

How did the roles of the Ahosu's wives change over time?

Answer 39

In the 1700s, they became more important in protecting royal power. (Date: 1700s)

Question 40

Approximately how many wives did an Ahosu have in the 1700s?

Answer 40

Around 2,000 wives with administrative and religious roles. (Date: 1700s)

Question 41

How could one access the Ahosu?

Answer 41

Through his chief wife, the daklo. (Date: 18th century)

Question 42

What administrative positions did Tegbesu inaugurate?

Answer 42

Positions: Agou (general of the army), Dinu (chief eunuch), Topozu (agriculture), Mesconum (royal wardrobe), Mehu (Prime Minister), Chacha (viceroy of Hueda). (Date: mid-18th century)

Question 43

What new laws were introduced under Tegbesu?

Answer 43

Regularized punishments for theft, curfew breaches, encroaching on royal monopolies on tobacco and alcohol; penalties for adultery and insulting royal children. (Date: mid-18th century)

Question 44

What was Xwetanu in Dahomey?

Answer 44

Annual custom festival where people paid tribute in cloth, cowries, and provisions. (Date: annually, 18th century)