The Oyo Ile Empire; SubSaharan Africa's Most Structured And Organized Empire Part1
The Oyo ile empire was an empire of today's southwestern Nigeria and some part of today's Benin republic; ketou, porto novo etc. the people of this empire are called the Yorubas the empire was made up of many Provincial Districts. it started around 16th century and collapsed during the opening of 18th century, the The empire was founded by Oranmiyan who also became the founder of The great Benin empire.Oranmiyan was the son of Oduduwa the progenitors of the Yorubas from Ile ife the craddle of the Yoruba race.
Oranmiyan was the first king of Oyo empire and followed by subsequent successors and the successors of this throne are usually the first son known as Aremo(The Crown Prince) and they are selected from the royal families and ordained by Ifa(a Deity).The empire has a kind of very structured and a civilized political arrangements just like today's arms of government which (comprises the executive, the legislature and the judiciary) to check mate the power and the excessiveness of the king . the kingdom practised a kind of centralized system of government where the Provincial districts are govern by the Baales(Provincial Governors).
The Political structure of the Oyo Ile empire
The Alaafin : The supreme leader and the king
The Oyomesi : The Oyo Mesi are seven in numbers and the principal councillors of the the kingdom. They possess the legislative powers and is headed by the Bashorun, as the prime minister, and the other six member are ; the Agbaakin, the Samu, the Alapini, the Laguna, the Akiniku and the Ashipa, they are saddle with the responsibility of protecting the interests of the empire and the people.
The Ogboni : The Ogboni are a very powerful secret society made up of powerful men and influential people.
The Ilari : The king appoints some certain officials who are mostly eunuchs These officials are saddle with the responsibility carrying out special task for the Alaafin.
TO BE CONTINUE NEXT………..