Observation

This question was popular among the candidates. A good number of those that answered it were able to identify at least one article of trade from West Africa to North Africa while many highlighted the challenges traders faced in their journey across the Sahara and scored poor marks.  However, candidates were expected to mention the under listed points.

(a)

(i)         Gold                                        (vii)      Ivory
(ii)        Slaves                                      (viii)     Beeswax
(iii)       Hides and skin                         (ix)       Camwood
(iv)       Ostrich feathers                                  
(v)        Gum                                       
(vi)       Kolanuts

(b)        (i)         The North African towns were embroiled in internal and external conflicts.
(ii)        The cities of Gao, Timbuctu/Timbuktu and Janne declined in economic importance.
(iii)       The Portuguese exploration of Africa opened a new window of trade with Europeans                         on the coast of West Africa.
(iv)       As the trade in gold was declining the trade in slaves was increasing rapidly on the                         West African Coast.
(v)        The Europeans introduced items of trade which were cheaper and more attractive.
(vi)       The Moroccan invasion of Songhai in the 16th century.
(vii)      The power struggle in Bornu and Hausaland in the 17th and 18th Centuries.
(viii)     Iron items were used for religious purposes.