West Africa a priest-king called as an Eze Nri. The Eze Nri managed trade and diplomacy on behalf of the Nri people and possessed divine authority in religious matters. The Oyo Empire was a Yoruba empire of what is today Western and North central Nigeria. Established in the 15th century, the Oyo Empire grew to become one of the largest West African states. It rose through the outstanding organizational skills of the Yoruba, wealth gained from trade and its powerful cavalry. The Oyo Empire was the most politically important state in the region from the mid-17th to the late 18th century, holding
Ojigi (Oyo) Ojigi (Oyo) Ojigi (also Ojiji) was Alaafin of the Yoruba Oyo Empire in what is now Nigeria from 1724-1735. Alaafin Ojigi's rule began Oyo's "great age of conquest". His reign is also considered the peak of imperial success, and Ojigi enjoyed the strong support of several important chiefs. Ojigi launched four military incursions against the Kingdom of Dahomey after the receiving requests for assistance from other kingdoms who were threatened by Agaja, the Dahomean king. In 1730 the Dahomeans agreed to begin paying an annual tribute of forty men, women, guns, and four hundred loads of cowries and corals to