JAMB History 2021 Past Questions & Answers

Said bin Sultan was the ruler of the Omani Empire, which was a major centre for the slave trade in East Africa. When he died in 1856, his empire was split between his two sons, creating the Sultanate of Oman and the Sultanate of Zanzibar. Both of these states were monarchies, ruled by a Sultan, which is a type of king.

Common mistake: Students might choose option C because they correctly remember the government was a monarchy, but they confuse the year of Said bin Sultan's death, which was 1856, with a later date.

The 'Divide and Rule' method was a key strategy employed by the British colonialists to manage and control the diverse ethnic groups in Southern Nigeria. By fostering divisions and preventing unity among the local populations, the British could more easily maintain their administrative authority and suppress any unified resistance. This method was integral to their overall system of colonial administration.

Common mistake: Students might mistakenly choose 'Assimilation' (A) if they confuse the British approach with the French colonial policy, which aimed to integrate colonial subjects into French culture and administration.

The Ogboni cult was a powerful secret society in traditional Yoruba political administration. It primarily functioned as a judicial body, responsible for settling disputes, enforcing laws, and maintaining justice within the community. They also served as a check on the power of the Oba and other chiefs.

Common mistake: Students might confuse the Ogboni's influence with executive power (C), which was primarily held by the Oba and his council, overlooking their specific judicial role.

Imperialism was a policy where European powers extended their rule over foreign countries. Europeans adopted imperialism primarily to expand their economic interests by securing raw materials and new markets for their goods, and to increase their political power and influence globally. This drive for economic and political expansion directly led to the conquest and establishment of colonial rule in places like Nigeria.

Common mistake: Students might mistakenly choose option A, 'develop the economies of the colonies', thinking that Europeans aimed to improve the colonies. However, the primary goal of imperialism was to benefit the colonizing power, not the colonized territories, making economic and political expansion for Europe the correct reason.

The question directly asks about the success of the indirect rule system, which is a core component of colonial administration in Nigeria. Option D is correct because the Hausa/Fulani society already had a well-established, hierarchical administrative structure (like the Emirate system) that the British could easily use to implement indirect rule. This existing system made it easier for the British to govern through local leaders without direct involvement.

Common mistake: Students might incorrectly choose C, thinking that Islamic education directly led to the success of indirect rule, but it was the pre-existing, organized administrative structure, not just the education system, that favored its implementation.

The question asks about the pre-colonial system of government in Benin. The Benin Kingdom was a prominent forest state in what is now Nigeria, characterized by a monarchical system led by the Oba. This topic covers the political structures of such early states in the region.

Common mistake: Students might incorrectly choose modern governmental structures like unitary or presidential, failing to recognize the historical context of pre-colonial African kingdoms.

Umar Tall was a significant 19th-century West African Islamic scholar and military leader. He was a key figure in the spread of the Tijaniyya Sufi order through a series of jihads, establishing it as a dominant religious and political force. This question relates to the broader context of Islamic reform movements and state-building in 19th-century West Africa, similar to the Fulani jihad.

Common mistake: Students might incorrectly choose Timbuktu, Bambara, or Djallon if they confuse the name of a city, ethnic group, or region with the specific religious order or movement established by Umar Tall.

Kano and Katsina were well-known independent Hausa city-states, famous for their trade and political influence. Kebbi, though not one of the original seven true Hausa states (Hausa Bakwai), was a powerful independent state in the region that interacted significantly with the Hausa states. Daura, while historically important as the mythical origin of the Hausa people, is often distinguished from the other major independent Hausa city-states due to its foundational role rather than its later political or economic dominance.

Common mistake: Students might mistakenly choose Kebbi because it is often classified as one of the 'Banza Bakwai' (non-Hausa states), thinking it is not a 'Hausa city-state' in the same way as the others.

The Sokoto Caliphate was a vast empire spanning a large geographical area. To effectively administer and govern such a wide territory, it was divided into numerous smaller, manageable units known as emirates. This administrative structure was primarily necessitated by the geographical expanse of the caliphate, making it easier to maintain control and collect taxes.

Common mistake: Students might incorrectly choose 'Jihad war' because the Caliphate was established through jihad, but the jihad was the cause of the Caliphate's formation, not the reason for its internal administrative division into emirates.

The Nigerian Youth Movement (NYM) was established in 1934 (initially as the Lagos Youth Movement) and renamed in 1936, making it a key nationalist organization active in the late 1930s. It played a significant role in advocating for Nigerian self-rule and greater participation in colonial administration. Its activities are central to understanding the early phases of Nigeria's struggle for independence.

Common mistake: Students often confuse the NYM with later nationalist parties like the NCNC, which was formed in 1944, outside the specified 'late 1930s' timeframe.