Oyo Empire culture in Oyo where victory was obligatory and defeat carried the duty of committing suicide. This do-or-die policy no doubt contributed to the military aggressiveness of Oyo's generals. The Oyo Empire was the only Yoruba state to adopt cavalry; it did so because most of its territory was in the northern savannah. The origin of the cavalry is disputed; however, the Nupe, Borgu and Hausa in neighboring territories also used cavalry and may have had the same historical source. Oyo was able to purchase horses from the north and maintain them in metropolitan Oyo because of partial freedom from the
History of the Yoruba people History of the Yoruba people The documented history of the Yoruba people begins with the Oyo Empire, which became dominant in the early 17th century. The older traditions of the formerly dominant Ile-Ife kingdom are largely oral in nature. The history of the Yoruba People was originated in the oldest town Ile-Ife and was founded by the deities Oduduwa and Obatala who created the world. Oduduwa was the first divine king of the Yoruba people and Obatala fashioned the first humans out of clay. It is said the Yoruba people believe their civilization began at Ile-Ife where the gods descended