- This paper consists of seven (7) questions
- Answer a total of five (5) questions. Question number one (1) is COMPULSORY
- Write your Number on every page of your answer sheet provided
The spread of Islam in Africa from the 7th century onwards played a transformative role in state formation across the continent. One significant contribution was the introduction of centralized systems of governance. Islamic political models provided African rulers with administrative frameworks for governing multi-ethnic territories, as seen in the Ghana Empire (8th-11th century) where Muslim advisors helped develop sophisticated taxation systems. The Mali Empire (13th-16th century) under Mansa Musa demonstrated how Islamic principles of governance could be adapted to African contexts, creating one of history's most prosperous states.
Secondly, Islam facilitated trans-Saharan trade networks that became the economic foundation for powerful states. The religion provided a common legal and commercial framework through Sharia law, enabling trade to flourish between diverse ethnic groups. The Songhai Empire's rise to prominence in the 15th century was directly tied to its control of Islamic trade routes and trading centers like Timbuktu, which became renowned centers of learning and commerce.
Thirdly, Islamic education and literacy contributed to state administration. The adoption of Arabic script allowed for record-keeping and correspondence between rulers. The Sokoto Caliphate established by Usman dan Fodio in 19th century northern Nigeria exemplified how Islamic scholarship could be mobilized to create a unified state apparatus with written codes and standardized legal systems.
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The 15th century marked a period of diverging developmental trajectories between Africa and Europe that would have profound historical consequences. In terms of technological development, Europe began experiencing rapid advancements in maritime technology, exemplified by Portugal's development of the caravel ship, while African naval technology remained focused on coastal and riverine navigation, as seen with the Swahili dhow tradition.
Political organization showed significant variation. While Europe moved toward centralized nation-states like Spain under Ferdinand and Isabella, much of Africa maintained diverse political systems ranging from large empires (Songhai) to city-states (Swahili coast) to stateless societies. The European model of sovereignty based on defined territorial boundaries contrasted with many African systems that emphasized control over people rather than land.
Economic systems also diverged markedly. Europe developed capitalist modes of production and financial systems like joint-stock companies, while African economies remained largely based on subsistence agriculture with complex regional trade networks. The gold trade of West Africa and the Indian Ocean trade networks operated on different principles than emerging European mercantilism.
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Marcus Garvey's Pan-Africanist movement in the early 20th century fundamentally transformed black political consciousness across the diaspora. His most significant contribution was articulating a philosophy of racial pride and self-reliance through the Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA), which by 1920 claimed over four million members worldwide. Garvey's newspaper, Negro World, circulated throughout the Americas and Africa, spreading his message that people of African descent should take pride in their heritage and work for self-determination.
Garvey pioneered the "Back to Africa" movement through his Black Star Line shipping company, which although financially unsuccessful, symbolized the possibility of African Americans returning to and developing their ancestral continent. This vision directly influenced later independence movements and Rastafarian philosophy. His 1920 Declaration of Rights of the Negro Peoples of the World presented to the League of Nations was one of the earliest formal demands for global black liberation.
Organizationally, Garvey created the first mass black political movement in the Western hemisphere, establishing chapters in over forty countries. His emphasis on economic self-sufficiency through ventures like the Negro Factories Corporation inspired later black capitalist initiatives. The red, black and green flag he popularized became enduring symbols of black nationalism.
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The immediate post-independence period in Tanzania (1962-1966) saw the implementation of foundational economic programs that would shape the nation's development path. The most significant was the introduction of the First Five-Year Plan (1964-1969), which emphasized agricultural development, industrialization, and infrastructure building. This comprehensive planning approach represented Tanzania's commitment to directed economic development.
In 1962, the government established the National Development Corporation (NDC) to spearhead industrialization through state-led investments. The NDC initiated projects like the Tanganyika Packers meat processing plant and the Friendship textile mill in Dar es Salaam, representing early import-substitution industrialization efforts. The creation of the Tanzania Rural Development Bank in 1963 provided crucial financing for agricultural modernization projects.
The most transformative rural development program was the establishment of settlement schemes (1963-1966), precursors to later ujamaa villages. Schemes like the Lower Moshi Settlement aimed to increase agricultural productivity through better farming techniques and cooperative organization. While these early settlements had mixed results, they established important institutional experience for Tanzania's later socialist experiments.
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