Advanced level 2025 South West regional mock history guide

Advanced level 2025 South West regional mock history guide

Advanced level 2025 South West regional mock history guide

SOUTH WEST REGIONAL MOCK MARCH 2025
MARK GUIDES FOR 0760 HISTORY 2
1. Compare the traditional governments in the Grassland and forest zones of Cameroon during
the 19th century.
A two part question on the similarities and differences of the traditional governments of the grassland
and the forest zones of Cameroon.
Part One: Similarities of the tradition governments of grassland and the forest zones
– Law and order prevailed in the two cases though maintenance was through different methods.
– Both communities had leaders or form of leadership that were looked up to.
– A system of checks and balances existed in both.
– They had some organizational political structure, etc
Part Two: Differences
– Grassland societies had centralized authorities with the ‘Fon’ wielding much influence and power
at the centre. With the forest zones, power was shared among the lineage heads.
– There was the existence of regulatory societies which acted as advisory and judicial bodies e.g.
Nwerong in Nso, Kwifon in Bafut, Ngumba, etc. These bodies were very influential and secretive
in the grassfields than was the case in the forest zone.
– Grassland communities had societies that performed military functions. They acted as police
enforcing authority of the Fon, fought wars of expansion and defence of the communities.
Example of military wing was the Manjong society. These societies were not existing in the forest
zone.
– Grassland communities had a hierarchical administrative system with the Fon at the head. The
Fon was assisted by the village councils, sub chiefs, Queen Mother, who recognized the authority
of the Fon e.g. Bafut and Nso. This organization was very negligible in the forest zone.
– Women, through the Queen Mother played an important role in the traditional government in the
grassfields than in the forest zone where their role was negligible
– Existence of village councils to resolve small disputes amongst subjects in the grassfields. These
councils were absent in most of the forest communities like the Bakweri, Duala where
maintenance of law and order was through consensus.
– In the forest zone, there was the segmentary pattern of political organization under lineage heads
as opposed to the nucleated settlements in the grassfields.
– Kingship in the grassfields was hereditary and considered divine. Fons were highly respected
unlike the chiefs of the forest zone.
Mark 10/15 one way
2. Account for the triumph of Modibo Adama’s Jihad in North Cameroon and examine the extent
to which it was genuinely a ‘Holy War.’
A three part question on the reasons for Adama’s triumph in the first part, how it was a holy war in
part two and how it was not a holy war in part three.
Part One: Reasons for Adama’s triumph
– Disunity amongst the pagan communities
– Fulbe superior weapons and the use of mercenaries
– Effective leadership and better military strategy of Adama
– Massive support from the Fulani and promises from Adama
– Accumulation of sufficient wealth
– Economic motivation as the Fulani expected economic gains
– Successes in Hausaland
– Fulani determination to seize power
– Support from neighbouring Caliphate