1903 – Formation of the African Society in London

On May 10, 1903, the African Society was formally established in London to promote African culture, scholarship, and political thought. Founded by prominent Black scholars and allies—including Sylvester-Williams and Henry Sylvester-Williams—the society provided a platform for African and Caribbean voices at a time when British colonial narratives dominated. Its creation followed the 1900 Pan-African Conference and sought to challenge stereotypes while fostering unity among African diasporas. The African Society published the Journal of the African Society, which included essays, studies, and travel writings by African intellectuals. It became an early intellectual hub for Pan-Africanism and later evolved into the Royal African Society. May 10, 1903, thus marks the institutionalization of Black scholarly resistance within the British Empire and a foundational moment for global Black identity formation. The society helped shape early 20th-century discourse on African self-determination and post-colonial futures.