WASSCE Government · Paper 1 style

Traditional systems

One sample question with the full working. 3 more in the app, with instant feedback and repair sessions for the traps below.

The pre-colonial Igbo political system was largely

Adecentralised (acephalous)
Bcentralised under an emir
Cruled by an Oba
Druled by the British crown

Show the answer and working

Answer: A

Igbo: acephalous.

Trap B Mixes up pre-colonial political systems: Keep one card per system: Hausa-Fulani (Emir, Waziri, Alkali, Sharia), Oyo (Alaafin, Oyomesi, Bashorun, Ogboni), Igbo (acephalous, age grades, elders), Ashanti (Asantehene, Okyeame).

Trap C Confuses pre-colonial political systems: Hausa-Fulani: centralised emirates under the Emir with Sharia. Old Oyo: Alaafin checked by Oyomesi, Ogboni. Igbo: acephalous/segmentary, council of elders, age grades. Ashanti: Asantehene with the Golden Stool, confederacy.

Trap D Mixes colonial administration policies: Britain: indirect rule through traditional rulers (Lugard, Northern Nigeria). France: assimilation/association — making Africans 'French'. Portugal: assimilado.

Traps in Traditional systems

Mixes up pre-colonial political systems
Keep one card per system: Hausa-Fulani (Emir, Waziri, Alkali, Sharia), Oyo (Alaafin, Oyomesi, Bashorun, Ogboni), Igbo (acephalous, age grades, elders), Ashanti (Asantehene, Okyeame).
Confuses pre-colonial political systems
Hausa-Fulani: centralised emirates under the Emir with Sharia. Old Oyo: Alaafin checked by Oyomesi, Ogboni. Igbo: acephalous/segmentary, council of elders, age grades. Ashanti: Asantehene with the Golden Stool, confederacy.
Mixes colonial administration policies
Britain: indirect rule through traditional rulers (Lugard, Northern Nigeria). France: assimilation/association — making Africans 'French'. Portugal: assimilado.
Gives only one part of the concept
Recall the full definition and check the option covers it, not just one component.
Picks a closely related concept
Learn related terms as contrasting pairs with one-line definitions, then identify which one the stem describes.

Practise Traditional systems (3 questions)Send to your class on WhatsApp