When Alaafin Labisi succeeded the previous (late) Alaafin Onisile in 1750, he appointed Gaa as his Bashorun, the chief of the Oyomesi (7 hereditary kings). During the reign of Alaafin Labisi, the ancient Oyo Empire, also known as Oyo-Ile, became so powerful that it gained the respect of the other kingdoms of Yorubaland.
History records that Alaafin Labisi collected tribute from the distant kingdoms of Dahomey, Popo and Ashanti, although his reign was very short and more than half of Yorubaland’s kingdoms and villages (over 6,000) fell under the political patronage of Oyo-Ile. The ancient Oyo Empire thus became a political and military colossus in Yoruba land.
Gaa, the newly elected Bashorun (Prime Minister), was a brave and powerful man whom the people of Oyo-Ile respected and feared because of his powerful charm and supernatural strength.Gaa is said to have the power to transform into any animal. Gaa was so feared that he became more authoritarian than Alaafin Labisi, who called him Bashorun. Bashorun Gaa was also said to be controlled by his “juju” powers, which often led him to abuse them.
Shortly after becoming Bashorun, he killed Alaafin Labisi’s two bwst friends, causing the devastated Alaafin to commit suicide. After the death of Alaafin Labisi (in 1750), Awonbioju became the new Alaafin of Oyo-Ile, but Bashorun Gaa known for rebelling against any Alaafin who refused to dance to his tune, shortened Alaafin Awonbioju’s reign, who only lasted 130 years. He was sentenced to death on Bashorun Gaa’s orders.
The reign of Agboluaje (Alaafin Awonbioju’s successor) lasts a little longer because he dances to the tune of Bashorun Gaa. But like his predecessors, Alaafin Agboluaje lost his precious life to Gaia’s betrayal. The fourth Alaafin to rule “under” Bashorun Gaa was Majeogbe (1772-1773), who also died due to Gaa’s excessive zeal. However, before he died, he managed to poison Gae, who remained paralyzed.The end of Bashorun Gaa actually occurred during the reign of the fourth Alafin “under his rule”, namely Alafin Abiodun (1774-1789). Abiodun immediately took the throne and began plotting the death of his traitor Bashorun to ensure peaceful and tyrannical rule. Alaafin Abiodun’s desperation to kill Bashorun Gaa increased when he killed his only daughter named Agborin. Bashorun Gaa is said to have needed a deer (Agborin) and when he failed to obtain one, he ordered his
men to kill Alaafin Abiodun’s daughter Agborin because she had a similar name. Angry and heartbroken, Alaafin Abiodun secretly met with Onikoyi and Are-Ona-Kakanfo, the Oyabi of Ajaseland, to find out how to send Gaa to the grave.Alaafin Abiodun and his co-conspirators successfully eradicated the fear that Bashorun Gaha had fomented among the people of Oyo-Ile. They also aroused the people’s anger against Gaha, whose fame and power were increasing at this time and had seriously began to wane due to his paralysis.
On one fateful day in 1774, hundreds of angry residents of Oyo-Ile attacked Gaa’s estate and killed all members of his family without any resistance from his men. However, Ojo Agubambaru, Gaia’s eldest son, survived the attack and fled to a distant land called Bariba. Bashorun Gaa himself was dragged out and publicly burned in the Akesan market. People believed that Gaa would be reborn if he had not been completely reduced to ashes. This marked the end of Bashorun Gaa in
, who was overzealous and drunk with power, killing four Alaafin in a row.The death of Bashorun Gaa gave rise to the popular saying: “Bi olaya ko seka, sugbon bio o bar ranti iku Gaa ki o so oto”. This translates as: “If you are brave, dare to be evil, but if you remember Gaia’s death, hold on to the truth.” » Alaafin Abiodun later ruled peacefully, but also committed suicide in 1789 after he conquered the cities Ijaye and Popo had attacked, which brought a lot of criticism.
It should be noted that the death of the all-powerful Bashorun Gaa affected the ancient Oyo Empire in one way or another.
First, he reduced the military and political power of the empire; this was due to the destabilization of Oyomesi following Gaia’s death; The Oyomesi were supposed to serve as a check on Alaafin, but instead they became his puppet, giving him full power to rule the empire.Second, the political unrest in the ancient Oyo Empire following Gaia’s death led to some of the kingdoms under her patronage (e.g. Dahomey) declaring their independence.
All these were undoubtedly among the factors that led to the eventual collapse of the old Oyo Empire in 1836/1837.
