| Obalokun | |
|---|---|
| Aláàfin of Ọ̀yọ́ | |
| Reign | 1588 - 1599 (or 1620s) |
| Predecessor | Aláàfin Abípa |
| Successor | Aláàfin Olúodò |
Ọbalókun (Yoruba translation "King of the Ocean") was anAláàfin and celebrated warrior-king of thekingdom of Ọ̀yọ́. He is also remembered as the Aláàfin under which Oyo first entered theAtlantic Slave Trade and contact with European powers. One of his nicknames was "Aágànná Erin" which translates to the plundering elephant, alluding to hisexpansionist policy.[1]
He was first in an era of successive despotic and short-lived kings of Oyo.
Ọbalókun was an ambitious and expansionist king. Under him the defensivecavalary force Oyo had gained through trade with theSahel had fully transformed into an offensive one, for which Oyo was later known for.[1]
His conquests, while not all concluding during his lifetime, include lands inÌgbómìnà, East CentralÈkìtì, the UpperỌ̀ṣun area,Ègbá and most notibly advances into the strip between theYéwá andOgun rivers (also referred to asẸgbado Corridor) which first gave Oyo access to theAtlantic Ocean and theglobal market.[1]
According to some there might have also been a short livedIléṣà tributary around the year 1600 during Ọbalókuns rule.
Ọbalókun Agana Erin was born to the daughter of theAlake of Egbaland.
According to Oyo tales, he was in communication with a European King (most likelyPortugal but maybeFrance)[2][3]
He was succeeded byOluodo.
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