During the 15th century Oyo and Benin
surpassed Ife as political and economic powers, although Ife preserved
its status as a religious center. Respect for the priestly functions of
the oni of Ife was a crucial factor in the evolution of Yoruban
culture. The Ife model of government was adapted at Oyo, where a member
of its ruling dynasty controlled several smaller city-states. A state
council (the Oyo Mesi) named the alafin (king) and acted as a check on his authority. Their capital city
was situated about 100 km north of present-day Oyo. Unlike the
forest-bound Yoruba kingdoms, Oyo was in the savanna and drew its
military strength from its cavalry forces, which established hegemony
over the adjacent Nupe and the Borgu kingdoms and thereby developed trade routes farther to the north.
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