Complex sentence: The decline of the obas began in the 18th century when a series of internal power struggles began which lasted into the 19th century, paving the way for the French takeover and colonization of the country in 1872.
Split into simpler sentences: The decline of the obas began in the 18th century when a series of internal power struggles began which lasted into the 19th century. This paved the way for the French takeover and colonization of the country in 1872.