The Oyo Empire is a Yoruba empire of what is today western Nigeria, north central Nigeria and Western Republic of Benin.

Established in the fifteenth century, the Oyo Empire grows to become one of the largest West African states.

It rises through the outstanding organizational skills of the Yoruba, wealth gained from trade and its powerful cavalry.

The Oyo Empire holds sway not only over most of the other kingdoms in Yorubaland, but also over nearby African states, notably the Fon Kingdom of Dahomey in the modern Republic of Benin to the west.