That is, indigenous elites inside West and Central Africa made large and growing profits from slavery, thus increasing their wealth and power.

An indigenous elite trained in French administrative practice formed an intermediary group between the French and the Africans.

Knowledge of English becomes an asset, and a new indigenous elite develops.

At the same time the educated indigenous elite was also developing an Indonesian nationalist political agenda.

Overall lifestyle was similar to the indigenous elite.

The indigenous elite clearly mediated between the Spanish and native worlds, governing, collecting tribute, and providing laborers for work projects.

Even though a native Catholic priesthood was prohibited throughout the colonial period, clearly the Christian religion came through a native filter, namely the indigenous elite.

They attempted to uproot the custom from among the indigenous elite, the only social class that was allowed concubinage prior to the conquest.

Throughout the colonial period property ownership and traditional rights separated the indigenous elite from those who were bound to serve the community and the Spaniards.

It did however create an educated indigenous elite able to articulate and eventually establish independence from the Netherlands.