Before the advent of the Europeans encounter, extensive contacts existed between empires and kingdoms on the continent. These sometimes had similar organizational systems and cultures. Benin developed into a major kingdom during the same period that Oyo (Yoruba empire was becoming dominant to the West. To the west of Borno, the Hausa-Fulani built their cities around Kano, Katsina, and Gobor This simultaneous emergence and various contacts, resulted in a cross-fertilization and dialogue among these powerful states of the Bight of Benin.