Observation

This question requires candidates to explicate how colonial rule contributes to the tragedy in the play.
Candidates’ responses were expected to contain the following:

• Identification of the major themes of colonial domination and exploitation, internal conflicts, greed and the quest for power.
• Explanation of tragedy
• Colonial Presence in Mende Land: Dr Samuel Rowe, his messenger and his soldiers
• The Colonial Style of leadership: autocratic, humiliates Gbanya and Yoko, imposes taxes, arbitrary reallocation of land territories.

• Internal conflicts: the struggle for power between Yoko, Musa and Lamboi.

Only a few candidates could do these; the performance was fair.