Legends of Africa wealth gained from trade and its possession of a powerful cavalry. The Oyo Empire was the most politically important state in the region from the mid-17th to the late 18th century, holding sway not only over other Yoruba kingdoms in modern-day Nigeria, Benin, and Togo, but also over other African kingdoms, most notable being the Fon Dahomey (in present-day Benin). The mythical origins of the Oyo Empire lie with Oranyan (also known as Oranmiyan), the second prince of the Yoruba Kingdom of Ile-Ife. Oranyan made an agreement with his brother to launch a punitive raid on their northern neighbors for
History of the Yoruba people main groupings. The first one is the recent immigrants that moved to the United States and the United Kingdom after the political and economic changes in the 1960's and 1980's. The second group of people are the slaves who migrated to South America countries like Cuba, Trinidad, Brazil, Grenada, and other countries. Many people today who are part of the Yoruba culture are Muslims and Christians. 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