Obalokun

Obalokun was an Alaafin of Oyo, he was first in an era of successive despotic and short-lived kings of Oyo.

Life

Obalokun Agana Erin was born to the daughter of the Alake of Egbaland. It was during his reign salt was introduced into Oyo and according to Oyo tales, he was in communication with the King of Portugal. He was said to have sent 800 messengers to pay homage to the kings of Europe, these messengers never returned.

Deep into his reign, he sent an army from the grasslands and savannah of Oyo into Ijesa country but the army was soundly routed by the Ijeshas, who lived in the tropical forest and had spatial knowledge of the environment.

References

• Samuel Johnson, Obadiah Johnson. The History of the Yorubas, From the Earliest of Times to the Beginning of the British Protectorate. p. 168.