Oyo Empire tsetse fly. Cavalry was the long arm of the Oyo Empire. Late 16th and 17th century expeditions were composed entirely of cavalry. There were drawbacks to this. Oyo could not maintain its cavalry army in the south but could raid at will. Cavalry in highly developed societies such as Oyo was divided into light and heavy. Heavy cavalry on larger imported horses was armed with heavy thrusting lances or spears and also with swords. Light cavalry on smaller indigenous ponies was armed with throwing spears or bows. Infantry in the region around the Oyo Empire was uniform in both armor
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