POLITICAL. SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC SYSTEMS OF AFRICANS IN THE PRE-CQLQNIAL PERIOD QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

POLITICAL. SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC SYSTEMS OF
AFRICANS IN THE PRE-CQLQNIAL PERIOD QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

1. Give three characteristics if African traditional education.

   i) It was carried throughout an individual’s life/no time limit. ii)

   Everybody in the society was a teacher/had something to offer. iii)

The elders in the society taught the youth societal norms/instructions. iv) Learning was through participation/practically oriented in the affairs/experience of the community /observation/experimentation,

1. It was informal, vi) Most learning took place during initiation – Young men learnt the role of father and girls the roles of mother, vii) Taught how to earn a living through apprenticeship.

1. a) State three factors which led to the growth of Baganda.
   1. Sound economy based on agriculture.
   2. The office of the Kabaka was hereditary.

:

1. Capable rulers such as Mutesa 1 iv) Participation of the long distance,
2. Decline of Bunyoro Kitara Kingdom.

b) Describe the Buganda system of government during the pre – colonial period.

i)  Buganda was a centralized monarchy headed by the Kabaka. ii)  The office of the Kabaka was hereditary.

1. His court was the final court of appeal. The Kabaka was the commander in chief of the armed forces and Sabatka.
2. The AKbaka was assisted in the running of the government by the prime minister

(Katikiro) who was his appointee.

1. There existed a council of ministers which consisted of Katikiro (prime minister) and Omuwanika

(treasure). Tehy adised the Kabaka.

1. Lukiko – This was a legislative body which discussed important matters affecting the kingdom. It was made up of Kabaka’s nominees.

1. a) Describe the social organization of the Shona during the pre- colonial

   period.

   1. They believed in the existence of ancestral spirits whom the consulted from time to time.
   2. The Shona communicated with the spirits through mediums/oracles.
   3. The priest presided over religious functions such as offering sacrifices to god.

.  iv  Shona elders were highly respected. .

1. Priests came from Rozwi clan.
2. It was a polygamous society.

b) Explain the political organization of the Mwene Mutapa kingdom during the pre-colonial period.

1. The empire/kingdom was ruled by an emperor/king who was both head of

(he state and government.

1. The office of emperor was hereditary.
2. The emperor was assisted in administering the empire by the queen mother, head, drummer; emperor’s sister, emperor’s principal wives, the chancellor and military commander, head door keeper, head cook. iv) The empire was divided into provinces which were ruled by kings who were directly answerable to the emperor. The emperor had a standing army which was used for defense and expansion of the kingdom.
3. Religion united people/religion create political unity,
4. The emperor controlled trade activities whose revenue was used to sustain the empire and the army.
5. Priest acted as a link between the people and the emperor/priests acted as emperor spies.
6. The emperor was military leader, ix) The vassal states were ruled by chiefs who paid tribute to the king.

1. State the main function of the Golden Stool in the Asante Empire during the pre – colonial period.

 –  The Golden stool bound together all the Asante states. It was a symbol of

Asante unity.

1. State two factors that facilitated the growth of the asante kingdom.

 i)  Able leaders e.g. Osei Tutu ii)  Unity brought about the Golden

Stool/Odwira festival/common society, iii) Wealth derived from the Trans – Atlantic slave trade. iv)  Military strengths based on the acquisitions of guns.

1. A strong agricultural base/availability of food. vi)

   Centralized political system under Asantehene.

vii)  A large army viii)  Oppressive need rule to free themselves from rule denkyia.