NECTA HISTORY 2025 ANSWERS

NECTA Form 4 History 2025

Suggested Solutions & Answers

SECTION A (16 Marks)

1. Multiple Choice Questions

(i) Answer: B (Oral traditions)
Reasoning: Passing down historical information by word of mouth from generation to generation is defined as oral tradition.

(ii) Answer: D (it enabled humans to make and use guns in wars)
Reasoning: The Middle Stone Age man did not use guns. Guns were invented much later (Iron Age/Modern history). Fire was used for warmth, protection, and cooking.

(iii) Answer: C (A direct military confrontation between the Hehe and the Germans)
Reasoning: The Hehe resistance, led by Chief Mkwawa, was an active military war against German colonial invasion, not a passive resistance.

(iv) Answer: E (It was given equally to children of all races)
Reasoning: Colonial education was discriminatory. It was based on race, with European children receiving better education than Asians and Africans.

(v) Answer: A (it improved African local industries)
Reasoning: The colonial economy was designed to exploit Africa. It destroyed local industries (de-industrialization) to create a market for European manufactured goods.

(vi) Answer: D (Exploitation of the slaves by the slave masters)
Reasoning: The first exploitative mode of production in history is Slavery, where slave masters owned and exploited slaves.

(vii) Answer: C (It removed the Arab regime from power by force)
Reasoning: The main goal and result of the 1964 Zanzibar Revolution was to overthrow the Sultan's Arab minority rule.

(viii) Answer: E (It helps them to understand their origins)
Reasoning: One of the primary functions of history is to help people understand where they came from and how their societies evolved.

(ix) Answer: B (She wanted them to remain sources of raw materials and markets)
Reasoning: By calling colonies "overseas provinces," Portugal claimed they were part of Portugal to avoid international pressure to grant them independence, ensuring continued economic exploitation.

(x) Answer: A (Because of good leadership of Kabaka)
Reasoning: The centralized administration under the Kabaka (King) was a key factor in Buganda's expansion.

2. Matching Items (Agriculture)

• (i) C (Shifting cultivation): Movement of farmers from one place to another.
• (ii) H (Sedentary pastoralism): Livestock kept in one location.
• (iii) D (Mixed farming): Keeping livestock alongside crop cultivation.
• (iv) E (Shadoof): Ancient Egyptian irrigation system with a pole and bucket.
• (v) F (Irrigation): Use of channels/pipes to supply water.
• (vi) B (Crop rotation): Planting different crops seasonally on the same land.

SECTION B (54 Marks)

3. African Rulers & Maasai Society

(a) Identification of Rulers:

• (i) East Africa: Kabaka Mutesa, Mtemi Mirambo.
• (ii) West Africa: Mansa Musa, Askia Mohamed.
• (iii) South Africa: Shaka Zulu, Zwangendaba.

(b) Roles of Morans (Maasai Warriors):

• Defense: Protecting the community from external attacks and wild animals.
• Raiding: Conducting cattle raids to increase the community's herd size.
• Escort: Escorting women and cattle during migration in search of pasture.

4. Chronological Order

1. (i) Portuguese sailors started voyages of discoveries during mercantilism. (15th C)
2. (v) Before 1800 AD, Africa and its interior had not been explored by the European explorers.
3. (vi) By the last quarter of the 19th century, the scramble had intensified...
4. (ii) Scramble for and partition of Africa led to the colonization of Africa.
5. (iii) New states were established in Africa based on geographical boundaries...
6. (iv) Neo-colonialism is still undermining the economic development in Africa.

5. Tanganyika vs Kenya Independence

• Status of Territory: Tanganyika was a UN Trust Territory, which meant Britain was under international pressure to grant it independence, unlike Kenya which was a Crown Colony.
• Settler Influence: Kenya had a large population of white settlers who opposed independence to protect their land, whereas Tanganyika had fewer settlers.
• Unity & Leadership: TANU under Julius Nyerere united the country using Kiswahili, whereas Kenyan nationalism was often fragmented by tribalism (e.g., KANU vs KADU).

6. Maji Maji War (1905-1907)

• Forced Cotton Growing: The Germans forced people to grow cotton on communal farms without pay, leading to hunger.
• Brutality of Rulers: The Akidas and Jumbes (local agents) treated the people harshly, using corporal punishment (kiboko).
• Taxation: Introduction of hut tax disrupted the traditional way of life and forced men into labor.

7. Internal Factors for Nationalism

• Role of Returned Soldiers: Soldiers who fought in WWII returned with new skills and the realization that Europeans were not invincible.
• Formation of Independent Churches: Churches like the African National Church challenged colonial religious dominance and preached liberation.
• Rise of Elites: Western-educated Africans (e.g., Nyerere, Nkrumah) used their knowledge to organize political parties and demand rights.

8. Ways of Obtaining Slaves

• Raiding/Warfare: Stronger tribes attacked weaker ones to capture people.
• Kidnapping: Individuals were ambushed and stolen (often children or lone travelers).
• Tribute/Judicial Punishment: Criminals or social outcasts were sold by chiefs as punishment or tribute.

SECTION C (30 Marks)

9. Reasons for African Defeat

• Poor Weapons: Africans used spears and arrows, while Europeans had superior firearms like the Maxim gun.
• Disunity: African societies were divided and often fought each other, allowing Europeans to use "divide and rule."
• Natural Calamities: The rinderpest outbreak and droughts weakened African economies and populations right before colonization.
• Collaborators: Some African leaders allied with Europeans to defeat their local rivals (e.g., Sangu vs Hehe).
• Economic Weakness: African societies lacked the economic resources to sustain prolonged wars against industrial powers.
• Lack of Professional Armies: Most African armies were volunteer-based, unlike the professional, drilled colonial forces.

10. Impact of Great Depression (1929-1933) on Africa

• Fall in Commodity Prices: The price of cash crops (coffee, sisal, cotton) dropped drastically, hurting African farmers.
• Wage Cuts: Colonial governments and companies reduced the wages of African laborers.
• Unemployment: Many workers were retrenched (fired) from mines and plantations due to low demand.
• Increased Taxation: To cover their losses, colonial governments increased taxes on Africans, causing hardship.
• Cut in Public Services: Expenditure on health, education, and infrastructure was reduced.
• Rise of Nationalism: The economic hardship led to strikes and the formation of welfare associations, fueling the independence movement.

11. Challenges Facing ECOWAS

• Political Instability: Frequent military coups and civil wars in member states (e.g., Mali, Burkina Faso) disrupt cooperation.
• Colonial Heritage: Division between Francophone (French-speaking) and Anglophone (English-speaking) countries hampers unity.
• Poor Infrastructure: Lack of transport networks makes trade between member countries difficult.
• Similar Products: Most countries produce the same raw materials, limiting the potential for intra-regional trade.
• External Interference: Continued influence from former colonial powers (especially France) affects decision-making.
• Currency Issues: Delay in implementing a common currency (the Eco) slows down economic integration.

Disclaimer: These answers are suggested for revision purposes.