Who is Boka?

Analyzing the question: "Who is Boka?" is not a grammar or vocabulary question you can work out from rules. It comes from the JAMB Literature-in-English / Use of English reading text, and it tests whether you know a specific term or character.

Explaining the concept: "Boka" is a Hausa word. In Hausa culture, a boka (plural bokaye) is a traditional healer or medicine man. He is believed to treat illnesses with herbs and charms, and in some accounts to have spiritual powers. This is the same sense in which the word appears in Nigerian cultural texts and in the JAMB-recommended literature on Northern Nigerian society.

Going through the options:

• A. District head – In Hausa society this is the Hakimi (or Dagaci at village level), not the Boka.
• B. Head of the capital – This is not a Boka. It would be a title like Sarki (emir/king) or a ruling official.
• C. Head of farming – The farming title is Sarkin Noma.
• D. Traditional medicine man – This matches the Hausa meaning of Boka.

Answer: The correct option is D. traditional medicine man.

Exam tip: Learn common Hausa titles and terms that appear in Nigerian texts, and pair each with its role:

• Sarki = king/emir
• Hakimi = district head
• Sarkin Noma = head of farming
• Boka = traditional healer/medicine man

Pairing each word with its role helps you eliminate the wrong options quickly.