Oyo (Nigeria)

Oyo is an ancient city in Oyo State, South West Nigeria. It was founded as the capital of the remnant of the historic Oyo empire, and is known to its people as 'New Oyo' (or Ọ̀yọ́ Àtìbà) to distinguish it from the former capital to the north known as 'Old Oyo' (or Ọ̀yọ́-Ilé), which had been deserted as a result of the Yoruba Revolutionary Wars. It inhabitants are mostly of the Yoruba people, and its ruler is the Alaafin of Oyo.

• The Ibarapa's
• The Oyo's
• The Oke-Ogun's
• The Ogbomoso's

Oyo is homogeneous state and it has a population of about 6 million and is predominantly occupied by the Yoruba people. However, within the state, there are sub-ethnic groups with distinct dialect peculiarities. Oyo State covers approximately an area of 28,454 km² (10,986 sq mi) and is ranked 14th by size. It is bordered in the South by Ogun State, in the North by Kwara State, in the West, it is partly bordered by Ogun State and partly by the Republic of Benin, while it is bordered in the East by Osun State. The landscape is a beautiful view of old hard rocks and dome shaped hills, which rise gently from about 500 m in the southern part and reaches a height of about 1,219 m above sea level in the northern part. Some principal rivers such as Ogun river, Oba, Oyan, Otin, Ofiki, Sasa, Oni, Erinle and Osun river owe their sources to this highland.

The origin of the Oyo Empire lies with Oranyan (also known as Oranmiyan), the last prince of the Yoruba Kingdom of Ile-Ife (Ife). Oranyan made an agreement with his brother to launch a punitive raid on their northern neighbors for insulting their father Oduduwa, the first Ooni of Ife. On the way to the battle, the brothers quarreled and the army split up. Oranyan's force was too small to make a successful attack, so He wandered the southern shore until reaching Bussa. There the local chief entertained him and provided a large snake with a magic charm attached to its throat.

The chief instructed Oranyan to follow the snake until it stopped somewhere for seven days and disappeared into the ground. Oranyan followed the advice and founded Oyo where the serpent stopped. Oranyan made Oyo His new kingdom and became the first "oba" (meaning 'king' or 'Ruler') with the title of "Alaafin of Oyo" (Alaafin means 'owner of the palace' in Yoruba). He left all his treasures in Ife and allowed another king to rule there.

At one time, Oyo-ile was at war with the Bariba of Borgu, who wanted to subjugate the new city still under construction. Orangun Ajagunla of Ila, Oranmiyan's elder brother, stormed in with his men to assist and they eventually assumed victory.

The topography of the Oyo State is of gentle rolling low land in the South, rising to a plateau of about 40 metres. The State is well drained with rivers flowing from the upland in the North-South direction.

It has an equatorial climate with dry and wet seasons and relatively high humidity. The dry season starts from November and last till March while the rainy season starts from April and ends in October. Average daily temperature in Oyo ranges between 25 °C (77.0 °F) and 35 °C (95.0 °F), almost throughout the year. The vegetation pattern of Oyo State is that of rain forest in the South and guinea savannah in the north. Thick forest in the South gives way to grassland interspersed with trees in the north.

The climate in the State favours the cultivation of crops like maize, yam, cassava, millet, rice, plantains, cocoa trees, palm trees and cashews.

Oyo is accessible by road from major cities in the South-western part of Nigeria, especially the capital city in each state; Osogbo, Ilorin, Ibadan and Lagos. There are several commercial buses such as God is good, Agofure, Iyare amongst many others that will take you to your destination. For transport enquiries, contact: ☏ +2348062286846 (whatsapp only).

Visitors travelling from Lagos can travel by road through Ibadan to Oyo at the major bus terminal in the city.

Visitors travelling from Osogbo can travel by road through Oke-fia Garage Osogbo to Oyo.

Visitors travelling from Ilorin can travel by road through Tanki Garage Ilorin to Oyo.

Oyo is a relatively compact town, and visitors can use taxis, motorcycles, tricycles (kek) and private vehicles to move around. During the World Sango Festival, some roads and areas around festival venues may become busier than usual.

Motorcycle taxis, locally known as okada, are commonly used for short journeys within Oyo. They can be useful for reaching places that are difficult to access by larger vehicles. Visitors should agree on the fare before starting the journey and use caution, particularly during busy festival periods.

Tricycles, commonly called keke, are another option for getting around town. They are suitable for short and medium-distance journeys and are often available around major roads and transport areas.

Some areas of central Oyo can be explored on foot. Walking can be a convenient way to experience local streets, markets and nearby cultural sites. Visitors should take precautions and avoid walking alone in unfamiliar areas at night.

• 7.819843.384991 Iyake Natural Suspended Lake, Ago-Afin, Ado Awaiye, ☏ +234 7038407442. 6AM-7PM. The Iyake suspended lake is the one in Africa that exists and is recognized it is the second of its type in the world. Hidden in Oyo the hike is very long and tiring right to the top of the mountain and the view beneath is breath-taking. The history of the lake has been passed down by the indigenes for centuries .It is indeed a beauty to behold. Nice place to picnic, swimming not allowed in the lake.  (updated Jun 2021)

• 8.377943.824822 Old Oyo National Park, ☏ +234 9064941163. Mon–Fri 8AM–6PM. A 970 sq mi (2,500 km²) park located in the historical site of the ancient capital of the famous old Oyo Empire National Park with old city walls and stone age caves plus elephants, baboons and buffalo.
  Old Oyo National Park is one of the national parks of Nigeria, located across northern Oyo State and spills into Kwara State, Nigeria. The park is on over 2,000 km2 of land in northern Oyo state,. Its strategic location location makes it an intersection of land, diverse wildlife and historical landmarks. The landscaping is extravagant, elaborate and organized with the space well managed .This makes it a tourist attraction well visited by the public. The park is easily accessible from southwestern and northwestern Nigeria.  (updated Jun 2021)
• Agodi Botanical Garden
• Ado-Awaye Suspended lake
• Mapo Hall
• University of Ibadan Zoological Garden
• Ido Cenotaph, Trans-Wonderland Amusement Park
• Iyamopo
• Agbele Hill in Igbeti
• Bowers Tower
• Cultural Centre
• Mokola.
• 7.40663.90113 Agodi Gardens (formerly Agodi Zoological and Botanical Gardens). An amusement park with a zoological park.It also has a swimming pool. ₦500 entry.  (updated Jun 2021)

• 7.3763.897114 Mapo Hall (Old Quarter, Ibadan). It is one of the oldest buildings in Oyo and Nigeria built in colonial style was the town hall a place of interaction. It was built under Captain Ross of the British Army. Mapo Hall was built by a Welsh Engineer named Robert Taffy Jone. A skilled engineer conversant will great design skills, he also built Bowers Tower and Manor House in Iseyin Oyo State.
  The hall was opened in 1929 by the British Governor and Commander in Chief of Nigeria Sir Creame Thompson.https://www.travelwaka.com/mapo-hall-one-of-the-oldest-historical-buildings-in-nigeria/.  (updated Jun 2021)

• 7.443013.894785 University of Ibadan Zoological Garden. It has a serene environ ,the interplay between nature is enthralling plant life and animals the balance is beautiful .There you can observe nature and meditate . There are Lions, giraffes, tortoise, ostriches, lots of exotic birds, snakes, crocodile chimpanzees and monkeys who are often begging from tourists.. The zoo is gradually getting back to its feet after a drastic flooding in the city of Ibadan that killed a lot of animals ,they were sweep away by the flood.  (updated Jun 2021)

• 7.8586113.9321151 World Sango Festival (Sango Festival of Oyo). August. An annual religious and cultural festival dedicated to Sango, a major figure in Yoruba traditional religion associated with thunder and lightning and commemorates the ancestral connection between Sango and the Oyo community. The festival marks the beginning of Yoruba traditional New Year. The main activities are centred around Koso Temple and other important traditional and cultural sites in Oyo. The festival traditionally lasts more than three days and includes ceremonies, chanting, drumming, dancing, and storytelling. Sango devotees and other participants come together for traditional rites, while visitors can experience Yoruba music, dance, oral traditions, dress and ceremonial practices. The Sango festival also serves to strengthen community identity and transmit cultural knowledge across generations. In 2023, the "Sango Festival, Oyo" was inscribed by UNESCO on the Representation of list of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. The inscription recognises the festival's importance to the cultural and social life of the Oyo community.  (updated Aug 2026)
• 7.8280583.921292 Mcrystal Cinema, Ace Supermarket, 211224 (located in Ace Supermarket Oyo State Nigeria.), ☏ +234 703 819 9363.  (updated Jan 2022)

The town has several daily and regular traditional markets, which are usually hosted every 3 - 5 days. Staple foods are the primary commodities of these markets, though they feature other kinds of products too.

• Akesan Market (Oja Oba).  
• Ajegunle Market.  
• Owode Market.  

• 7.8083183.9090621 Begonia hotel, Ilora Rd, ☏ +234 8094447555.  
• 7.8385443.9383472 Adesh Hotel, Oyo town, ☏ +234 8100848966.  

• 7.83013.9204711 Peamak Hospital, Odo Eran Street, Owode (Odo Eran), ☏ +234803 579 4572. 24 hours. The leading Hospital in Oyo. For 30 years, we have provided quality healthcare for residents in Oyo. The head office is located at Odo Eran Street,
  Owode, Oyo, Oyo street  (updated Dec 2025)

• Ibadan
• Ogbomosho
• Ilorin