REMINISCENCEYoruba Political System, the Original Home Of True Federalism (2)
Yoruba Political System, the Original Home Of True Federalism (2)
It is empirical that the customs and all traditional practices today in government, religion, and economic life had the origins of the government of the Alaafin, though monarchical, and so that of Old Oyo Empire which is based on precepts and concepts, such as separation of powers that supported and nurtured the ancient
culture and sophisticated civilization from time immemorial.
By Bode Durojaiye, the Director of Media and Publicity to the Alaafin of Oyo.
The Oyo Empire was one of West African history’s most powerful and influential empires. It is remembered for its intricate political systems, formidable military prowess and rich cultural legacies that have shaped the Yoruba way of life. The Oyo Empire ruled from the 14th to the 19th centuries and left a lasting legacy crucial to developing Yoruba culture as we know it today.
In addition to being a political and military powerhouse, the Oyo Empire was also a centre of cultural and artistic excellence. The Yoruba people of Oyo made significant contributions to various forms of art, music, and literature, many of which continue to influence contemporary Yoruba culture.
Yoruba art, particularly sculpture and beadwork, reached new heights during the Oyo Empire. Artists created elaborate carvings and bronze sculptures depicting deities, royalty, and everyday life, showcasing the empire’s rich artistic heritage. The intricate beadwork produced in Oyo was used in royal regalia, religious ceremonies, and adornments, symbolising wealth and status.
Music and oral literature also flourished in the Oyo Empire. Griots, or traditional storytellers, preserved the history and legends of the Yoruba people through oral narratives and songs. Drumming and dance were vital parts of Yoruba cultural expression, with various drums, such as the talking drum (dùndún), playing key roles in communication and celebration.
The Yoruba people’s inventiveness, tenacity, and cultural diversity are demonstrated by the Oyo Empire. Having one of the most advanced governmental structures, military tactics, and economic endeavours in West African history, it was an extremely powerful kingdom.
The Yoruba people’s surviving cultural traditions and historical consciousness carry on the heritage of the empire, even though it finally fell victim to both internal and external influences.
Knowing the historical background of the Oyo Empire enhances our understanding of the various dynamic civilizations that have influenced our global community, while also teaching valuable nuggets from the past. The story of Oyo is a powerful reminder of the complexities and achievements of African civilizations and a celebration of the evolution of the Yoruba people as a whole.
The well- structured political administrative set-up of the old Oyo Empire allowed relative peace to reign in various communities and traditional rulers were not left out as they were charged with the responsibility of ensuring that there was peaceful co-existence among people in those communities.
Therefore, for there to be peace in the old Oyo Empire, the Aláàfin and
his Council of Chiefs known as the Oyo-Mesi developed a structure built on the principle of separation of powers to address various conflict related matters. This was borne out of the fact that for development to be achieved in any community, people must live in peace no matter what. In order to achieve this, separation of power was put in place to avoid usurpation of duty and overlap of functions.
The peaceful co-existence experienced in the old Oyo Empire was made possible due to this deeply rooted principle. Existing findings on the roles played by
Alaafin and his chiefs in the old Oyo Empire have mainly focussed on the social, economic and religious perspectives with little attention paid to how Aláàfin in council made use of the principle of separation of powers to resolve conflicts, and how such strategies can be adopted as a template in the contemporary political structure in Nigeria today.
I make bold to say that in actual sense, the Yoruba political system is the original home of true federalism, dating back to the old Oyo Empire, which lasted for more than six hundred years in history.
Each of the traditional Yoruba kingdoms was a federating unit running its administration with local peculiarities.
The role of the Alaafin as the Central Government was to defend the Yoruba’s territorial integrity against any external aggression, as was the case in Iganna, Okeho and Kishi, when the Alaafin invited the British for military intervention to halt French aggression.
Another was in the area of settling boundary disputes among various Yoruba communities.
Few of such cases were boundary disputes between Ede and Ife, which the Alaafin determined at Shasha; between Ibadan and Abeokuta, which the Alaafin settled at Bakatari in favour of Ibadan. If we all want the Nigerian project to succeed, we must face the start reality of history and empirical postulates of true federalism.
There is urgent need for incorporating elements of the Old Oyo Empire’s political structure into modern governance, particularly emphasizing the principles of true federalism and the role of traditional rulers.
The empire’s history of resolving boundary disputes and maintaining territorial integrity as examples of effective governance, the importance of traditional institutions in maintaining cultural values and order at the grassroots level are noticeable highlights.
What about the relevance of the Old Oyo Empire’s political system to contemporary Nigeria. How?
The Yoruba political system, as exemplified by the Oyo Empire, was the original home of true federalism, with individual kingdoms functioning as federating units.
There is need for the inclusion of traditional rulers in the constitution, recognizing their role as custodians of culture and tradition, as well as their ability to maintain peace and order at the local level.
The Oyo Empire’s system of checks and balances, with the Oyo Mesi (a council of chiefs) acting as a constraint on the Alaafin’s power, as a model for a balanced political structure.
The Oyo Empire successfully defended its territory and resolved boundary disputes among Yoruba communities as evidence of its effective governance.
The importance of promoting Yoruba language, culture, and traditions, and encouraged the establishment of a museum in Oyo to preserve historical artifacts cannot be overemphasized.
There should be adoption of intellectual committees, alongside traditional chieftaincies, to modernize the system and ensure its relevance in the modern era.
To be continued……..