By the time Kurunmi became Kakanfo, the Oyo Empire was already in decline as a result of the events leading from the rebellion of the 6th Kakanfo, Afonja, and the loss of Ilorin to the Sokoto Caliphate, in addition to internal wranglings and power plays that saw the crowning and demise of about four Alaafin in rapid succession. One of the Alaafin that succeeded Aole was Labisi, who had a powerful Prime Minister, or Basorun, called Gaha, or Gaa.