1. Initial Enthusiasm and Collaboration: Many Africans initially embraced formal Western education as a means to gain knowledge, skills, and advancement in colonial society. They saw education as a way to improve their lives and contribute to their communities.
2. Selective Adoption and Adaptation: While Africans valued the knowledge and skills gained from Western education, they often adapted it to suit their own cultural and societal contexts. They incorporated traditional values and beliefs into their understanding of Western subjects and used education to strengthen their cultural identity.
3. Formation of an Educated Elite: Formal Western education led to the emergence of an African elite class. These educated Africans played important roles in colonial administration, education, and politics. They often became leaders and advocates for their communities, using their education to promote social and political change.
4. African Educationists: A number of Africans became educators themselves, establishing schools and institutions to provide Western-style education to their communities. These African educationists aimed to empower Africans with the knowledge and skills needed to challenge colonial domination.
5. Missionary Influence: Western education in Africa was often facilitated by Christian missionaries. Some African students embraced Christianity and its teachings as part of their education, while others remained critical of missionary influence and its potential to undermine African customs.
6. Resistance and Criticism: As African intellectuals gained a deeper understanding of Western colonial policies and their negative impact on African societies, some began to criticize the content and objectives of colonial education. They argued for more inclusive and relevant educational curricula that focused on African history, culture, and self-determination.
7. Pan-Africanism and Cultural Revival: Many African intellectuals exposed to Western education embraced Pan-Africanism and sought to use their education to promote African unity, cultural renewal, and self-determination. They challenged European stereotypes of African culture and advocated for the recognition and preservation of African values and traditions.
Overall, Africans demonstrated a complex mix of responses to formal Western education before 1920. While they initially embraced it as a means of empowerment, they also selectively adopted and adapted it to suit their cultural contexts. The emergence of an educated elite, African educationists, and the development of Pan-Africanist and cultural revivalist movements all shaped African responses to formal Western education during this period.