PRECIOUS SECONDARY SCHOOL, ARAMOKO – EKITI

Read this comprehension passage and answer question under it

The founding of old Oyo Kingdom is ascribed by tradition to Oranmiyan, the youngest of all the grandchildren of Oduduwa and the alleged progenitor of the Binni dynasty. The rise and growth of old Oyo into an empire of great political and economic significance was due to conditions rooted in old Oyo’s internal circumstance rather than to any European influences.

One of the factors which accounted for the growth of old Oyo was its geographical location. The land on which the empire was located was fertile for expensive agriculture. Additionally its strategic location on the savannah belt made it especially suitable for commercial enterprise. Thus, products of the forest states were received in Oyo and from there transported to the relatively drier savannah areas. In the same way, savannah products like salt, leather goods and glassware were received in Oyo markets and exchanged or sold by Oyo traders of the coastal states. Therefore, the role of Oyo was basically to serve as the commercial part in the north-south trade.