The struggle by the chiefs and people of West Africa against political, social and economic dominance by European powers was referred to as

Step 1: Analyze the question The question asks for the term describing the struggle by the chiefs and people of West Africa against European political, social and economic dominance. The key idea is resistance by Africans, not the domination itself.

Step 2: Explain the key concepts

• Imperialism: The policy by which a powerful country extends its control over other territories. This is what the Europeans were doing, not what the Africans were doing.
• Nationalism: The desire of a people to be free from foreign rule and to govern themselves. It covers early resistance by chiefs and later organized agitation by the educated elite, trade unions and political parties.
• Neo-colonialism: Indirect control of a country, mainly economic, after it has gained independence. It is not a struggle against colonial rule.
• Liberation: Means being set free. It describes an outcome or a type of movement, but it is not the standard term in the Government syllabus for the West African resistance to European dominance.

Step 3: Work through the options

• Option A describes the oppressor's action, so it is wrong.
• Option C describes control after independence, so it is wrong.
• Option D could sound plausible, but "liberation" is generally used for armed struggles such as those in Southern Africa, and it is not the syllabus term for West Africa.
• Option B fits: the chiefs and people resisted foreign rule, and the Government syllabus calls this movement for self-rule nationalism. Examples are the resistance of Jaja of Opobo and Nana of Itsekiri, and later the activities of Herbert Macaulay, the NCNC and Nnamdi Azikiwe.

Step 4: Answer The correct option is B. nationalism.

Exam tip: Match the actor to the term. When Europeans are the ones acting, think imperialism or colonialism. When Africans are resisting or agitating for self-rule, think nationalism.