The 10th Alaafin of Oyo was a female "king" who ruled Oyo during the imperial era, Alaafin Orompotoniyun Ajiun (commonly known as Orompoto), was the Alaafin of Oyo from 1554 to 1562.
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Her father was the 7th Alaafin of Oyo, Alaafin Onigbogi. When Alafin Onigbogi was on the throne, Oyo was in Ibariba territory. After his death, his eldest son, Ofinran, was crowned Alaaf of Oyo after him in 1512.
After Alafin Ofinran became king, he decided to leave Ibariba territory and settle where Oyo-Ile was later established, near Igboho. After making his decision, he announced it to his subjects and brothers: Prince Egungun Oju (also known as Egun Oju), Princess Orompotoniyun and Prince Ajiboyede. All agreed with Alafin Ofinra on his decision.
The royal family and their entourage left the village of Ibariba. On the way, one of the king's "Olorit" gave birth to Prince Tella Abiipa. Alafin Ofinran died before they reached Oyo-Ile. Prince Egungun Oju was crowned Alaaf of Oyo in 1534 when they arrived in Oyo-Ile. It was Alaafin Egungun Oju who led the Oyo people to Oyo-Ile, very close to Igboho before he was razed in 1835 by a Fulani scholar of Islam called Alim al Salih and his Fulani Jihad army. It was Are-Ona Kakanfo (general of the empire) Afonja, a master of Ilorin, who invited Alim al Salihu to his ranks.
Those who survived settled in Ago d'oyo/Oyo Atiba where the city of Oyo is located today. At the same time that they inhabited the territory, the Nupe also began to invade the territory and the Oyo and Nupe began to fight for supremacy over the territory. Alafin Eguguoju also died shortly after his settlement in Oyo-Ile. Alaafin Ofinran's other siblings (children of Alaafin Onigbogi) were Princess Orompotoniyun and Prince Ajiboyede. Prince Ajiboyede was also a young prince and Alafin Ofinran's son, Prince Tella Abiipa, was just a child. The Oyomesi wanted to use one of the two, regardless of age, but Princess Orompotoniyun Ajiun insisted that she was the rightful heir to the throne.
The Oyomesi also insisted that there had never been a female king in the history of Oyo. They told Princess Orompotoniyu that they could not crown her as king, that they preferred to use little Prince Ajiboyede or little Tella Abiipa as Alaafin of Oyo.
Princess Orompotoniyun felt offended and told the Oyo people that she would show them that she was a "man" and brave, and not an illegitimate and a woman, as they claimed. She promised to show them why she had the right to the throne. She asked them to meet her at the palace in seven days. From that day on, Princess Orompotoniyun began to dress like a prince, not a princess. She began to behave and dress like a man.
On the seventh day, when Oyomesi arrived at the palace, Princess Orompotoniyun took off the "male" agbada she was wearing. The Oyomesi were not surprised that Princess Orompotoniyun had little or no breasts. This did not surprise the Oyomesi, they did not touch her, they just hissed and replied: "It is not new to see a lady who has very small breasts on her chest, it does not give you the right to the throne, you are still a woman." "Even dressing and acting like a royal prince does not change anything. She remains a princess, a princess has never been crowned in our history. "It's not happening now."
Orompotoniyun just smiled and took off his pants. To their surprise, they saw not only what looked like a penis, but also a scrotal sac with two scrotal balls hanging below the penis. That is why she praised him thus: "Emi Ajiun, a ri òbò sẹgun tử".
Terrified, the Oyomesi immediately bowed down before the princess and began to praise her and sing, Kabiyesi o. She was immediately crowned Alafin of Oyo. She ruled from the city founded by her ancestor and brother, Alaafin Egungun Oju (near Igboho). The bravery and leadership of the female "queen" laid the foundation of the powerful "old Oyo empire". An empire that united the entire Oduduwa race as the Yoruba nation and also subjugated many cities as far as Togo and Dahomey (now the Republic of Benin) with the Alafin as its emperor.
Like the famous warrior queen of northern Nigeria, Queen Amina of Zaria, Alaafin Orompotoniyun Ajiun led her people into war. She fought and won every battle against or from Oyo. In 1555 (a year after becoming Alafin of Oyo), she completely defeated the Nupe warriors who had long terrorized Oyo-Ile. Alafin Orompotoniyun was known as an expert on horses and had created a specialized order of cavalry officers in her army, known as the Eso Ikoyi. She used horses extensively in military battles, which is why BBC Yoruba describes her as a brave warrior who defeated her enemies on horseback. Her reign was peaceful and tranquil.