Una città «ancora troppo coloniale». Uno studio sulle scuole di Asmara negli anni '50

The literature on the Italian influence over Eritrea after the collapse of the Fascist Empire is deficient. In particular the question of the implications of the Italian presence for education in the former colony opens up an almost new frontier to the work of historians. This essay attempts to increase the adequacy of the state of art on the basis of a thesis entitled Aspetti e problemi educativi e scolastici nella città di Asmara. After graduating in education in 1959 with this dissertation, Eleonora Onnis, Sister Maria Nora to the Catholic Church, a missionary in Eritrea, would have become the Rector of the University of Asmara. Her thesis, which has never been studied before, is noteworthy because of its richness of information and depth of research. Hence it can be considered a relevant source for the multi-perspective reconstruction of the educational phenomenology in Asmara in the 1950s. This analysis of Onnis’ thesis contributes to the further growth of historical knowledge not only because this nun sets out the organizational structure of the schools of Asmara at that time in detail, especially those established by Italians, but also because of other important elements resulting from this study. Onnis undertakes an accurate review of the social stratification in Asmara. Sister Maria Nora also highlights the tightening of racial prejudice after the abolition of the discriminatory laws passed between 1936 e 1940 for the implementation of an apartheid regime in the Italian African colonies. Moreover, the remarks made by this nun are of interest in terms of their reflection of the Italian mentality of the 1950s: firstly, as a consequence of the moral condemnation of non-marital unions, Onnis ascribes stigmatising psychological characteristics to half-caste youngsters; and secondly, in line with the ongoing colonial ideology of progressive mission in Africa, Sister Maria Nora addresses the problem of education from the standpoint of raising Eritrea to the standard of European civilization. In conclusion, this essay is a starting point for understanding the persistence of unequal relations between Italians and Eritreans even after the end of colonial rule.