Question
“Tewodros II paved the way for the reunification of Ethiopia.” Discuss.
Answer/Explanation
Ans:
Candidates are required to offer a considered and balanced review of the degree to which Tewodros II was a significant factor for the reunification of Ethiopia. The question invites candidates to make a judgment as to the significance and/or importance of a range of factors; however, emphasis must be on Tewodros II.
Indicative content
- In 1855, Lij Kassa Hailu, declared himself “King of Kings” and took the name Tewodros II.
- Tewodros begun the process of reunification by subjugating princes from other provinces, for example, imprisoning Prince Menelik of Shewa who refused to recognize him. He used force and not diplomacy which led to him being unpopular.
- He managed to overthrow feudal lords and redistributed land to the peasants among other people.
- His efforts to abolish the slave trade also united many of the ordinary people who supported his actions.
- Through all this his aim was to re-unite and modernize Ethiopia.
- It may be noted that his attempts to gain the support of the British to achieve his aims failed and that later rulers were able to learn from his mistakes.
- It may also be noted that his attempts to unify Ethiopia caused offence; notably, but not exclusively, to the clergy and the nobility.
- His successes and failures laid the foundation for the future reunification of Ethiopia.
The above material is an indication of what candidates may elect to write about in their responses. However, it is not exhaustive and no set answer is required.
Examiners and moderators are reminded of the need to apply the markbands that provide the “best fit” to the responses given by candidates and to award credit wherever it is possible to do so.
Question
Evaluate Lobengula’s impact on the Ndebele Kingdom.
Answer/Explanation
Ans:
Candidates are required to appraise the outcomes, for the Ndebele kingdom, of Lobengula’s rule.
Indicative content
- Lobengula became the king of Ndebele after the death of Mzilikazi. He was able to defeat Zwangendaba and distributed any of the survivors of war to his other regiments.
- Lobengula created one of the most powerful kingdoms in Central Africa in the last part of the 19th century.
- With the defeat of the Zwangendaba regiment, he was able to unite his people.
- Lobengula was able to build up a very strong army and he used it to protect his kingdom.
- Like Mzilikazi, he gave protection to the missionaries and this eventually contributed to the downfall of the Matabele kingdom. Lobengula tried to repel the takeover of his kingdom by the British, but was unable to achieve this aim. This drew his kingdom to various wars.
- Lobengula signed various treaties and concessions that ended up handing authority over the Matebele kingdom to the Cecil Rhodes. One of the concessions was the Rudd concession that gave Cecil Rhodes both commercial and legal powers over Matebeleland.
- He was able to incorporate subjects like the Mashonaland into his kingdom, whose property was controlled by Lobengula and they had to pay tribute.
The above material is an indication of what candidates may elect to write about in their responses. However, it is not exhaustive and no set answer is required.
Examiners and moderators are reminded of the need to apply the markbands that provide the “best fit” to the responses given by candidates and to award credit wherever it is possible to do so.
Question
To what extent did Mosheshwe’s leadership contribute to the growth and survival of the Sotho Kingdom?
Answer/Explanation
Ans:
Candidates are required to consider the merits or otherwise of the suggestion that Mosheshwe’s leadership was one of the most important factors in the growth and survival of the Sotho state. Other factors may also be considered in order to provide a balanced response.
Indicative content
- Candidates may refer to Mosheshwe’s strategy of offering shelter and protection to refugees from the Mfecane as a means of expanding the population, and increasing the strength, of the Sotho state.
- His use of the mafisa system may also be deemed to have been important. Under this system newcomers were allowed to temporarily utilize cattle from Mosheshwe’s personal herd in return for their loyalty.
- Mosheshwe’s selection of Thaba Bosiu as a mountain fortress to which the Sotho nation could retreat in order to resist hostile invasion forces may also be addressed as having been significant.
- His use of the pitso, a democratic forum, facilitated the discussion of policy and the resolution of disputes among the Sotho.
- Further, he encouraged cattle raiding and trade (with the Boers and Griqua), as a means of increasing the wealth of the Sotho state.
- French Catholic missionaries were employed as foreign policy advisors and this may be deemed to have had a discernible impact.
- He also requested British protection in order to forestall a likely defeat at the hands of the Boers. While this was a move that secured the survival of the Sotho state, it came at a cost; acceptance that the Sotho state would become a British protectorate.
The above material is an indication of what candidates may elect to write about in their responses. However, it is not exhaustive and no set answer is required.
Examiners and moderators are reminded of the need to apply the markbands that provide the “best fit” to the responses given by candidates and to award credit wherever it is possible to do so.
Question
With reference to the period up to 1874, evaluate the reasons for the decline of the Asante Empire.
Answer/Explanation
Ans:
Candidates are required to appraise a range of factors that led to the decline of the Asante Empire in the 19th century. There is no prescribed response. However, a balanced judgment is expected.
Indicative content
- As a consequence of the slave trade, there was frequent warfare between the Asante and neighbouring states. This had the effect of weakening all of the warring parties.
- The British decision to abolish the slave trade, which was the basis of Asante wealth and power, in 1807 and the gradual decline of this trade thereafter also contributed to the decline.
- The series of wars fought with the Fante for control of the lucrative trade of the coastal areas may also be deemed to have had an impact.
- Further, the interference of European powers in African affairs—the Dutch allied with the Asante and the British with the Fante—may have also contributed to Asante decline.
- Many British merchants were determined to destroy Asante power in order to open up new trade opportunities in the Gold Coast interior – and pressured the British government to assist them in this objective.
- A series of wars fought with the British in the 1820s resulted in an 1831 treaty in which the Asantehene recognized the independence of the coastal states and put an end to the Asante Empire’s southwards expansion.
- There were also growing tensions within the Empire. Separatist pressure in the northern states of Brong, Gonja and Dagomba was facilitated by the Asante preoccupation with the coastal states and their deteriorating relations with the British.
The above material is an indication of what candidates may elect to write about in their responses. However, it is not exhaustive and no set answer is required.
Examiners and moderators are reminded of the need to apply the markbands that provide the “best fit” to the responses given by candidates and to award credit wherever it is possible to do so.