The Bashorun (also Baṣọ̀run, Ọṣọrun or Iba Ọṣọrun) was the second highest title in the

Oyo Empire The Oyo Empire was a Yoruba people, Yoruba empire in West Africa. It was located in present-day western Nigeria (including the South West (Nigeria), South West zone, Benin Republic, and the western half of the North Central (Nigeria), North Cent ...

, following the Aláàfin, the king. The Bashorun was the leader of the 7-person council of Oyo called the Ọ̀yọ́ Mèsi and his position was essentially that of a

Prime Minister A prime minister or chief of cabinet is the head of the cabinet and the leader of the ministers in the executive branch of government, often in a parliamentary or semi-presidential system. A prime minister is not the head of state, but r ...

Chancellor Chancellor () is a title of various official positions in the governments of many countries. The original chancellors were the of Roman courts of justice—ushers, who sat at the (lattice work screens) of a basilica (court hall), which separa ...

, which he is often referred to as. In times without an Aláàfin, the Bashorun would rule as regent. It was his duty to protect the unwritten

constitution A constitution is the aggregate of fundamental principles or established precedents that constitute the legal basis of a polity, organization or other type of entity, and commonly determines how that entity is to be governed. When these pri ...

and counter the Aláàfin when he becomes unfit to rule, either through disability or by becoming

tyrannical A tyrant (), in the modern English usage of the word, is an absolute ruler who is unrestrained by law, or one who has usurped a legitimate ruler's sovereignty. Often portrayed as cruel, tyrants may defend their positions by resorting to r ...

. They are also known as "the king maker" because they play the biggest role in choosing the next Aláàfin. The Bashorun intern is appointed by the Aláàfin; it was custom for the Bashorun to be a descendant of a former Bashorun which has led to various

dynasties A dynasty is a sequence of rulers from the same family, usually in the context of a monarchical system, but sometimes also appearing in republics. A dynasty may also be referred to as a "house", "family" or "clan", among others. Historians ...

forming throughout the existence of the title. The office greatly lost significance after a Bashorun, Gáà, overthrew the Aláàfin in 1754.Johnson, Samuel (August 2011). ''The history of the Yorubas : from the earliest times to the beginning of the British Protectorate''. .

OCLC OCLC, Inc. See also: is an American nonprofit cooperative organization "that provides shared technology services, original research, and community programs for its membership and the library community at large". It was founded in 1967 as the ...

989713421. {, class="wikitable" , - align="left" ! Tenure{{Cite web , date=2022-04-24 , title=Alaafin of Oyo: Wo Alàáfin 43 tó jẹ́ láti ìgbà ìwásẹ̀ ṣáajú Lamide Adeyemi tó ṣẹ̀ṣẹ̀ wàjà , url=https://www.bbc.com/yoruba/awon-iroyin-miran-61207351 , access-date=2025-01-16 , website=BBC News Yorùbá , language=yo !Incumbent Bashorun ! Incumbent Aláàfin , - valign="top" , ''c.1300 '' , , , ''Foundation of

'' , - valign="top" , - valign="top" bgcolor="#ffffec" , c. 1300 , Ẹfufu-kò-fẹ-ori, , Oranyan, Aláàfin , - valign="top" bgcolor="#ffffec" , ??? , "Ẹrin-din-logun-Agbọn kò ṣe dani ifa", ,

Ajaka Ajaka was an Oyo emperor (located within modern-day Nigeria) who was twice on the throne. His father was Oranyan or Oranmiyan and his brother, according to the historian Samuel Johnson, was Shango. Life Ajaka originally ruled Oyo as a regent - ...

, Aláàfin , - valign="top" bgcolor="#ffffec" , rowspan="2" , ??? , rowspan="2" , Salekuodi, ,

Shango Shango (Yoruba language: Ṣàngó, also known as Changó or Xangô in Latin America; as Jakuta or Badé; and as Ṣangó in Trinidad Orisha) is an Orisha (or spirit) in Yoruba religion. Genealogically speaking, Shango is a royal ancestor of th ...

, Aláàfin , - valign="top" bgcolor="#ffffec" ,

(restored), Aláàfin , - valign="top" bgcolor="#ffffec" , ??? , Banija, , rowspan="2" , Aganjusola, Aláàfin , - valign="top" bgcolor="#ffffec" , rowspan="2" , c. 1400 , rowspan="2" , Ẹrankogbina , - valign="top" bgcolor="#ffffec" , rowspan="2" , Kori, Aláàfin , - valign="top" bgcolor="#ffffec" , rowspan="2" , ??? , rowspan="2" , Eṣugbiri , - valign="top" bgcolor="#ffffec" , Oluaso, Aláàfin , - valign="top" bgcolor="#ffffec" , c. 1500 , Ayangbagi Aro, ,

Onigbogi Onigbogi was a king of the Oyo Empire in West Africa who succeeded his father, the Alaafin Oluaso to become the 8th king of the Oyo. According to some now challenged narratives as recorded by Samuel Johnson, his mother, Aruigba-Ifá left her homet ...

, Aláàfin , - valign="top" bgcolor="#ffffec" , ??? , Sokia "ti iwọ ẹwn irin", , Ofiran, Aláàfin , - valign="top" bgcolor="#ffffec" , ??? , Ọbalohun, ,

Eguguojo Eguguojo (also known as Egunoju) was the Alaafin of Oyo during the sixteenth century. It was during his reign that the capital city was moved from Oyo ile to Oyo Igboho (New Oyo), after a protracted battle with the Nupes and also as a result of in ...

, Aláàfin , - valign="top" bgcolor="#ffffec" , ca.1550-1560 , Aṣamu, ,

Orompoto Orompoto (also spelled Oronpoto) was an Alaafin of the Yoruba Oyo Empire, the first female Alaafin to be precise. The empire of which she ruled is located in what is modern day western and north-central Nigeria. History Orompoto was the sister of ...

, Aláàfin , - valign="top" bgcolor="#ffffec" , rowspan="2" , late 1500s , rowspan="2" , Ibatẹ̀, ,

Ajiboyede Ajiboyede was a successful but autocratic ''alaafin'' of the Oyo empire The Oyo Empire was a Yoruba people, Yoruba empire in West Africa. It was located in present-day western Nigeria (including the South West (Nigeria), South West zone, Benin R ...

, Aláàfin , - valign="top" bgcolor="#ffffec" ,

Abipa King Abipa, also known as Ogbolu or Oba M'oro, was an Alaafin of the Oyo empire. He is believed to have ruled during the late sixteenth and early seventeenth centuries. Early life Abipa was the son of Egunoju and one of his queens. He was repo ...

, Aláàfin , - valign="top" bgcolor="#ffffec" , rowspan="3" , ca 1580-1600 , rowspan="3" , Iba Magaji, ,

Obalokun Ọbalókun (Yoruba translation "King of the Ocean") was an Aláàfin and celebrated warrior-king of the kingdom of Ọ̀yọ́. He is also remembered as the Aláàfin under which Oyo first entered the Atlantic Slave Trade and contact with Europe ...

, Aláàfin , - valign="top" bgcolor="#ffffec" ,

Oluodo Aláàfin Olúodò was an '' Aláàfin of Ọ̀yọ́'' who died shortly after being crowned. He ruled the Oyo kingdom in the early 17th century and was preceded by Ọbalókun and succeeded by Àjàgbó. Olúodò continued the efforts and polic ...

, Aláàfin , - valign="top" bgcolor="#ffffec" , rowspan="2" , Ajagbo, Aláàfin , - valign="top" bgcolor="#ffffec" , rowspan="2" , 1600s , rowspan="2" , Akindein , - valign="top" bgcolor="#ffffec" , Odarawu, Aláàfin , - valign="top" bgcolor="#ffffec" , rowspan="2" , mid to late 1600s , rowspan="2" , Woruda, , Kanran, Aláàfin , - valign="top" bgcolor="#ffffec" , rowspan="2" , Jayin, Aláàfin , - valign="top" bgcolor="#ffffec" , rowspan="5" , late 1600s , rowspan="2" , Iba Biri , - valign="top" bgcolor="#ffffec" , rowspan="3" , Ayibi, Aláàfin , - valign="top" bgcolor="#ffffec" , Oluaja , - valign="top" bgcolor="#ffffec" , Yabi , - valign="top" bgcolor="#ffffec" , Apalà, , Osiyago, Aláàfin , - valign="top" bgcolor="#ffffec" , rowspan="3" , early 1700s , Yau Yamba, , Ojigi, Aláàfin , - valign="top" bgcolor="#ffffec" , rowspan="2" , Jambu , Gberu, Aláàfin , - valign="top" bgcolor="#ffffec" , rowspan="2" , Amuniwaiye, Aláàfin , - valign="top" bgcolor="#ffffec" , mid 1700s , Kogbọ̀n , - valign="top" bgcolor="#ffffec" , mid 1700s - 1754 , Soyiki/Èṣùògbó, , Onisile, Aláàfin , - valign="top" bgcolor="#ffffec" , rowspan="5" , July 1754 - ca.1780 , rowspan="5" , Gáà, , Labisi, Aláàfin , - valign="top" bgcolor="#ffffec" , Awonbioju, Aláàfin , - valign="top" bgcolor="#ffffec" , Agboluaje, Aláàfin , - valign="top" bgcolor="#ffffec" , Majeogbe, Aláàfin , - valign="top" bgcolor="#ffffec" , rowspan="2" , Abiodun, Aláàfin , - valign="top" bgcolor="#ffffec" , ca.1780-ca.1790 , Kangidi , - valign="top" bgcolor="#ffffec" , late 1700s , Aṣamu-Agba o-léèkan, , Awole Arogangan, Aláàfin , - valign="top" bgcolor="#ffffec" , rowspan="3" , ca.1800 , rowspan="3" , Alobitoki (?), , Adebo, Aláàfin , - valign="top" bgcolor="#ffffec" ,

Makua Makua may refer to: * Makua (person), an alaafin of the Oyo Empire * Makua people, an ethnic group in Mozambique and Tanzania * Makhuwa language, a Bantu language spoken in Mozambique * Makua languages, a branch of Bantu languages * Makua Rothman ...

, Aláàfin , - valign="top" bgcolor="#ffffec" , ''vacant'', vacant , - valign="top" bgcolor="#ffffec" , rowspan="2" , ??? , ?, , Majotu, Aláàfin , - valign="top" bgcolor="#ffffec" , ?, , Amodo, Aláàfin , - valign="top" bgcolor="#ffffec" , early 1800s - 1831 , Akioṣo, ,

Oluewu Oluewu was the Alaafin (''emperor'') of the Oyo empire in northwestern Yorubaland, West Africa, from 1833-1835. He attempted to re-establish Oyo's predominance in the region, but his decisive defeat and death at the Battle of Ilorin in 1835 instead ...

, Aláàfin , - valign="top" bgcolor="#ffffec" ,

References

Lists of rulers in Africa Yoruba state of Oyo Yoruba state of Oyo History of the Yoruba people