Oyo and Dahomey

• What geographical similarities allowed the kingdoms to rise?

  Savannah grasslands, protection from costal raids (Oyo had thick forests that went to Lagos Lagoon and Dahomey had Mahi Swamplands that the King kept deliberately wild
• What key military advantage did Oyo have?

  Cavalry
• What key military advantage did Dahomey have?

  Firearms
• How did someone rise to power in Oyo?

  Through their connections with the Yorubaland/ Ife-Ife
• How did someone rise to power in Dahomey?


  Through loyalty to the state
• What did both kingdoms benefit from to rise and develop infrastructure?

  Slave trade
• When did Dahomey become a tributary to Oyo?

  1726
• When did Oyo reclaim their kingdom from the Nupe?

  1608, after 80 years
• Name of Prime-Minister like figure in Oyo?

  Basorun
• Who was the key Dahomeian king for military?

  Agaja (1708-1740)
• What two key territories did Agaja capture?

  Allada 1724 and Whydah 1727
• When did Agaja capture Allada?

  1724
• When did Agaja capture Whydah?

  1727
• Who was in charge of the Oyo Capital Military?

  Basorun
• What was the highest ranking military title in Oyo and who was the only person who could select them?

  Are Ona Kakamfo, only the Alafin
• Which Alafin created the title of Are Ona Kakamfo?

  Alafin Ajabo
• How did the slave trade help to centralise power in Dahomey during Tegbesu's reign (1740)?


  He installed the Coki and Bonyon to ensure all slave trade went through the king, insuring a royal monopoly
• How did the slave trade help to uphold the power of the Alafin and Oyo Mesi?

  They had agents in trade so had a competitive advantage
• How did the slave trade challenge the authority of the Alafin in Oyo?

  Diversity of traders at Ouidah meant that there access to the slave trade allowed to amass power as in Oyo one of the main ways of measuring wealth and status was the number of slaves a man owned.
• How did the slave trade challenge the authority of the Dada in Dahomey?

  Did not entirely hold a monopoly. Private merchants frequently traded without the permission of the king
• What advantage did slaves have for the Oyo army?

  Much cheaper than horses ( a horse cost 80,000- 100,000 cowries and a slave cost half this)
• What evidence is there that political divisions were the main reason for the decline of Oyo?

  In the 18th century, many political positions became too powerful and rivalled the Alafin such as Basoru Gaha from 1754 - 74 at the expense of Alafin Abiode and Alafin Adebo being outsed by the Are Ona Kakamfo
• What evidence is there that political divisions were not the main reason for Oyo's decline?

  1774 - Aboidan able to depose of Gaha with the help of the Are Ona Kakamfo and provincial armies
• What evidence is there that military weakness caused the decline of Oyo?

  Alafin Abiodun weakened the army eg their lose in Borgo 1783, Nupe 1791 and eventually Dahomey 1823
• When did Dahomey cease to be a tributary to Oyo?

  1823
• What evidence is there that military weakness was not a reason for the decline of Oyo?

  Abiodun did not weaken the military, he fortified the capital army with 4000 Popo soliders
• Why was Dahomey so important for trade in Oyo?

  Allowed for access to European trade at the port of Ouidah
• Who did the Dada of Dahomey have to rely on for a spiritual connection to the Yorubalands?

  The Kpojito (Queen Mother)
• What religious practice did both the Alafin and the Dada use to maintain power?

  Cults
• What was a key cult in Oyo that the Alafin exercised direct control over?

  Cult of Sango
• What was the key cult that Dahomey gained control over?

  Cult of Dangbe in Whydah
• How did religion lead to instability in Oyo?

  The rise of the Sokoto Caliphate / Islam
• How did religion lead to instability in Dahomey?

  The Dada lacked spiritual legitimacy in the areas they conquered
• What did Agaja create to help him conqueror Allada and Whydah?

  A spy network that exploited inner conflicts
• What is an example of a God "purchased" by the Dada?

  Whydah sun god, Mawu
• What military position did Tegbesu install?

  Ilari
• Give two examples of public displays used in Oyo to strengthen Alafin's power

  Bere Festival where annual tribute from provinces received and Mole Festival to consolidate spiritual links
• Give examples of public displays used in Dahomey to strengthen the power of the Dada

  Annual customs and Grand customs which celebrated deceased kings and demanded mass human sacrifice
• What was similar about the people that Oyo and Dahomey relied on for administration

  Neither posed a threat due to their lack of lineage lines
• What was a unique feature of the Dahomey army

  3000 to 8000 women employed as part of the palace bodyguard