“African leaders collaborated with the colonial powers because they had no alternative.” Discuss.

The question requires candidates to offer a considered and balanced review of the statement, with which they may agree, disagree or partially agree. Candidates must give examples of leaders who collaborated in their responses. They may argue that those who collaborated did so because they did not have weapons to match those of the colonialists. Some collaborated because they were not assured of support by their neighbours and therefore resistance was not a choice. Alternatively, they may argue that collaborators had a choice, but collaborated for self-serving reasons, including gaining weapons, which they used to attack their neighbours, or, due to the developmental opportunities they hoped to gain from the colonial power.

This question on collaboration by African leaders provided some challenges. Strong responses understood the term collaboration and provided a range of reasons and specific evidence to support them. Weaker responses were not always clear on the meaning of the term collaboration or were limited in their knowledge of the reasons for it.