This was a popular question. The question is on the role and importance of the Sande dancers in the play. However, most candidates limited their responses to the aspect of dance and entertainment.
A correct answer should contain:

• A discussion on the theme of the struggle for succession to the rulership of Mende chiefdom to power in the face of external aggression and internal machinations.
• A clear character identification the Sande dancers as a group that entertains the chief and other dignitaries in Mende land.
• Sande Dancers as a cultural group: they form part of the culture and tradition of Mende land. They provide entertainment for the chief and also entertain visitors to Mende Chiefdom.
• Sande Dancers as a socio-political group: the Sande group is a highly organized and important socio-political group in Mende land. The group protects their members from social indignity. They act like a pressure group to demand that Yoko is ‘deposed’ on account of her alleged killing of Jeneba.
• Significance of the Sande Dancers in the play: the group is significant in being presented as the image of respect accorded women in the social hierarchy of Mende land. The group also participates significantly in promoting the understanding of the importance of culture and tradition in Mende land. The group is significant in performing the role of check and balance in the politics of power in Mende land.

The candidates’ performance was good.