Colonial Home, Enugwu

Home of a member of the British colonial establishment, Enugu. Staged photo, 1930s(?). The people standing are named, from left: Adebayo, Kanu(?), unnamed person(?), Thomas, two "gardeners," an unnamed person, and a "cook" on the right.

In all contact with the natives, let your first thought be the preservation of your own dignity. The natives are accustomed to dealing with very few white people and those they meet hold positions of authority. The British are looked up to, put on a very high level. Don't bring that level down by undue familiarity.

– WWII instructions given to white troops stationed in West Africa. From the West African Review, January 1943.

Initially, when people in present-day Nigeria came into contact with British people, they were usually upper and upper-middle class. This gave the impression that all Europeans were of this background.

Comparisons were made between the peoples of what became Nigeria and some of the wealthiest and most privileged people in British society.

It was the manners, speech, etiquette, etc., of upper-class British people that many European educated Africans strived to imitate. Devout missionaries also influenced the image of the European in West Africa.

European educated Africans were surprised when they travelled to Europe and saw that not all Europeans were of a certain class and that not all Europeans were as pious as the missionaries.