The Yoruba people contributed significant cultural and economic influence upon the Atlantic slave trade during its run from approximately 1400 until 1900 CE.[1][2][3]
From 1400 onward, the Oyo Empire's imperial success made the Yoruba language a lingua franca almost to the shores of the Volta.[4][5] Toward the end of the 18th century, the Oyo army was neglected as there was less need to conquer.[6][7] Instead, Oyo directed more effort towards trading and acted as middlemen for both the trans-Saharan and trans-Atlantic slave trades.[6] Europeans bringing salt arrived in Oyo during the reign of King Obalokun.[8] Thanks to its domination of the coast, Oyo merchants were able to trade with Europeans at Porto Novo and Whydah.[9] Here the Oyo Empire's captives and criminals were sold to Dutch and Portuguese buyers.[10][11]
In addition to the influence on slavery, and later Afro-American cuisine and language, the importation of Yoruba culture was most heavily evidenced in such manifestations of Yoruba religion as Santería, Candomblé Ketu, and other traditional spiritualities.