Orompotoniyun, the legendary female Alaafin of Oyo

                    By Bayo Ogunmupe

    Alaafin Ajiun Orompotoniyun was the first and only female Alaafin (King) of Oyo. She ruled Oyo Empire from 1550 to 1562. Known as Orompoto, she was the sister of King Egungunoju who died without a mature male child to be enthroned king. And to prevent the crown moving away from her kindred, Orompoto magically changed to a man and became king.

    She first came to the throne as a regent, but she later held onto the throne when some members of the Oyomesi (Council of Chiefs) began to plot how to install themselves as king and bring their lineage into the Alaafin line.

    The Oyomesi did not at first recognize Orompoto because Oyo tradition forbade women from being king. But she held onto the throne saying she was a man. Then, a day was fixed for her to prove her manhood by being naked before the chiefs, which she agreed. On the said day, Princess Orompoto surprised everyone, as she magically transformed herself into a man, making the chiefs to prostrate to her in obeisance, and immediately crowning her king.

    Orompoto was a very successful king. She built a wall around Igboho, the then capital of Oyo, which has endured to this day. She devised an ingenious way of moving her warriors to attack enemies without anyone being able to trace the path they followed. She created a cavalry of over a thousand force, first of its kind in her time. And kept Oyo safe and secure for decades. She engaged one thousand archers on horseback to shoot enemies with poisoned arrows.

    She drove Nupe people away from Oyo, overpowering them in the 1555 Nupe versus Oyo war. She won many other wars for her empire. Her treaty of peace and alliance with the Nupe endured to this day. Orompoto was not only a ruler, she was also an active, sagacious field commander of the Oyo imperial army. She was a skilful horse rider, she imported horses from Timbuktu to maintain a formidable army.

    She was one of few Oyo emperors who died in battle. Oral tradition had it that she introduced the wearing  of veils by Oyo emperors before their subjects. She was also known to always sport the male attire. I am particularly interested in this story because Orompoto appointed my ancestor, Ibate Basorun, the Basorun of Oyo. The Basorun is the chair of the Oyomesi to date.