JAMB History 2023 past questions

Checked by the Skolra question team · Last updated 15 October 2026

Ten questions from the 2023 JAMB History paper, with answers and explanations. We hold 78 questions from this paper, and the Skolra app has all of them.

JAMB History 2023 questions and answers

1. 1.

   What was the political structure of the Nupe Kingdom during this period?

   1. A
      Centralized monarchy with a Etsu as the supreme ruler
      Correct
   2. B
      Confederation of independent city-states
   3. C
      Democratic assembly of equal chiefs
   4. D
      Theocratic state governed by Islamic priests
   Show answerHide answer

   Answer: A

   The Nupe Kingdom had a centralized political structure with an Etsu (king) as the supreme ruler. The Etsu held considerable power and presided over a hierarchical administration that governed the kingdom, with various subordinate chiefs reporting to the central authority.

2. 2.

   What was the purpose of the Pan-African Congresses that began in 1900?

   1. A
      To create a unified African military force
   2. B
      To establish colonial administration in Africa
   3. C
      To establish trade agreements between African nations
   4. D
      To unite African peoples against colonialism and promote African independence
      Correct
   Show answerHide answer

   Answer: D

   The Pan-African Congresses, beginning in 1900, aimed to unite African peoples and the African diaspora against colonialism and to promote African independence and self-determination. These congresses brought together African leaders and intellectuals to discuss common grievances and strategies for liberation from colonial rule.

3. 3.

   Which social group in Nigeria was most affected by the introduction of the indirect rule system?

   1. A
      The Igbo people and other stateless societies without centralized authority
      Correct
   2. B
      The Hausa-Fulani emirates
   3. C
      The Yoruba city-states
   4. D
      The trading communities
   Show answerHide answer

   Answer: A

   The Igbo people and other stateless societies in southeastern Nigeria were most adversely affected by the introduction of indirect rule. Unlike the centralized Hausa-Fulani emirates where indirect rule could be effectively implemented through existing traditional authorities, the Igbo had decentralized, democratic political systems. The British artificially created warrant chiefs to govern these societies, disrupting traditional governance and creating resentment.

4. 4.

   The Mahdiyya Movement began with the declaration of the Mahdi in what year?

   1. A
      1881
      Correct
   2. B
      1885
   3. C
      1875
   4. D
      1890
   Show answerHide answer

   Answer: A

   The Mahdiyya Movement began with Muhammad Ahmad's declaration as the Mahdi on June 29, 1881, at Aba Island on the White Nile in Sudan. This proclamation initiated a religious and political movement against Egyptian colonial rule that lasted until 1899.

5. 5.

   Which major event led to the decline of the Benin Kingdom's influence in the 19th century?

   1. A
      Internal religious conflicts within the kingdom
   2. B
      Invasion by the Yoruba Ibadan forces
   3. C
      The complete collapse of trans-Atlantic trade
   4. D
      The British military expedition and conquest in 1897
      Correct
   Show answerHide answer

   Answer: D

   The major event that led to the decline of the Benin Kingdom's influence in the 19th century was the British military expedition and conquest in 1897. The British invaded Benin City, overthrew Oba Ovonramwen, and incorporated the kingdom into the British colonial territory, effectively ending Benin's independence and power.

6. 6.

   Morocco is known for producing which luxury commodity, derived from the argan tree?

   1. A
      Leather goods
   2. B
      Woven carpets
   3. C
      Saffron
   4. D
      Argan oil
      Correct
   Show answerHide answer

   Answer: D

   Morocco is renowned for producing argan oil, a luxury commodity derived from the argan tree. Argan oil is highly valued in the cosmetic and culinary industries due to its rich nutritional content and beneficial properties, and Morocco is one of the primary sources of this premium product.

7. 7.

   The decline of the Songhai Empire in the 16th century was partly due to

   1. A
      Collapse of the trans-Saharan trade routes
   2. B
      Epidemic diseases that decimated the population
   3. C
      Economic depression caused by flooding of the Niger River
   4. D
      Invasion from Morocco and internal civil strife
      Correct
   Show answerHide answer

   Answer: D

   The decline of the Songhai Empire in the 16th century was partly due to invasion from Morocco, particularly the Moroccan conquest of Timbuktu in 1591, combined with internal civil strife and factional disputes within the empire. The Moroccan invasion marked the beginning of the empire's rapid deterioration.

8. 8.

   Which African leader famously stated, "I am the captain of my soul" and became an icon of the decolonization movement?

   1. A
      Nelson Mandela
      Correct
   2. B
      Kwame Nkrumah
   3. C
      Julius Nyerere
   4. D
      Kenneth Kaunda
   Show answerHide answer

   Answer: A

   The phrase "I am the captain of my soul" is closely associated with Nelson Mandela, though it actually originates from William Ernest Henley's poem "Invictus." Mandela, while incarcerated at Robben Island for 27 years, recited this poem to fellow prisoners and kept a copy with him. The phrase became emblematic of his resilience and became an icon of resistance and the decolonization movement.

9. 9.

   How did the Murtala/Obasanjo regime handle the issue of minority rights and tensions among various ethnic groups?

   1. A
      Abolished all regional differences and centralized all power in the north
   2. B
      Divided the country along ethnic lines with separate administrations
   3. C
      Eliminated minority protections in favor of majority rule
   4. D
      Promoted federal unity by reorganizing the state structure into 12 states, then 19 states
      Correct
   Show answerHide answer

   Answer: D

   The Murtala/Obasanjo regime (1975-1979) addressed minority rights and ethnic tensions through state reorganization. They first divided Nigeria into 12 states, then later reorganized into 19 states. This federal system aimed to reduce the dominance of any single ethnic group and promote national unity by breaking up the larger regional structures.

10. 10.

    The Mfecane was primarily driven by

    1. A
       British military invasions from the Cape Colony
    2. B
       Portuguese colonial expansion into Southern Africa
    3. C
       The expansion and military campaigns of the Zulu Empire under Shaka
       Correct
    4. D
       Economic competition for diamond resources
    Show answerHide answer

    Answer: C

    The Mfecane (meaning 'the crushing') was primarily driven by the expansion and military campaigns of the Zulu Empire under Shaka (c. 1787-1828). Shaka revolutionized Nguni warfare and transformed a small clan into a dominant military force, setting in motion a series of wars and forced migrations that reshaped the political and demographic landscape of Southern Africa.

The questions come from past JAMB, WAEC and NECO papers. We use software to help write the answer options and explanations, and every answer is checked twice before it goes on the site. How we check

Spotted a wrong answer? Tell us from the app or on the contact page and we check it.

Practise all 78 questions we hold from the 2023 paper, on a timed CBT screen

Every question has the answer and an explanation, in the Skolra app.

Download for WindowsDownload for Mac

About the app · Skolra for Windows · Skolra for Mac