Naming Systems during Yoruba Wars: A Sociolinguistic Study

The various intra-tribal conflagrations which consumed the Yoruba empire of Oyo were fundamentally economic and political. Oyo was renowned as an extraordinary exporter of slaves in the eighteenth century, and also as the seat of government for millions of citizens spanning the whole of South Western Nigeria and parts of the Republic of Benin. The revolt of Afonja in Ilorin against Alaafin Aole marked the beginning of the end of the great empire. The different battles fought by the Yoruba led to the emergence of new names in Yoruba lexicon. This paper treats thirteen major Yoruba wars and their onomastic imports.