History Paper 2 WASSCE (SC), 2016

Question 1

Highlight any five features of the socio-political organization of the Efik.

Observation

This question was very unpopular among the candidates and the few ones who attempted it performed poorly. It required the candidates to explain the features family, linage group, the village composition, religious aspect, role of secret societies and age grades.

Many of the candidates discussed the features adequately while few of them listed their points without further explanations. Specifically, the candidates were expected to state the following points:

(i) The family was the basic unit of the socio-political system of the Efik

(ii) Marriage was another institution of the Efik socio-political system. There were certain sets of rites to be undergone by a young girl, most especially, before she could be given out in marriage.

(iii) Lineage group constituted another important unit of political system in the land. It was made up of a collection of nuclear and extended families with male ancestor. This group dealt with matters of war.

(iv) The village was an important political unit made up of village and this was a group of many lineage groups.

(v) Religion was an important aspect of the socio-political system. The people worshipped a supreme deity called " Nkem and were supervised by a chief priest called Oku Nkem.

(vi) There was a village council which was an assembly of their representative of the various lineage groups that constituted the village.