""Before the white men came, We were scantily dressed. Our women walked about bare chested. Boobs hanging out, rape was minimal. Our men married as many wives as their yam barn could contain. The white man told us our ways was barbaric. They told us we need to stick to one woman as the bible taught (but most great men in the Bible had more than 1 wife). We accepted their ways of life, changed our names to theirs, threw away our culture and traditions. Ironically this same white men are back With a new concept, telling us we have to now readjust our marriage laws. That, what they said earlier one is not fully correct, about one man, one woman. Now they have added, man/man.. Woman/woman. African Christians still frown at the idea of polygamy, Yet call this new concept "Signs of the end times" Europeans colonised India and Nigeria Both countries got their independence at almost the same time. Most indians are hindus, the kept their religion, accepted the white mans education, language etc. Rare to see an Indian person with English names, their dress code still remains, traditional, Indian attires, India is a fast developing country.
Their medical care is one of the best in the world. They manufacture and export, they are a nuclear armed country, have warships etc. Like every other country they still have poor masses. Nigeria, one the other hand, accepted the white mans religion. We dumped our names dress code etc. We ignored the technology. Now the number one export commodity from Nigeria is religion. Most churches now have branches all over the world. Yet our mind set speaks other wise. When the word corruption comes up. People imagine politicians, yes most politicians are corrupt. But the masses are more, from the messenger in the office to typist, asking for money for coke, to the policeman in the street, to the contractor doing substandard jobs. Enough of the signs of end time mentality, and hoping for a magical intervention. We are the ones who can make the change we so desire. - Uduak Käy'Peé

Have you been to India before

spongeback: Have you been to India before

why did u ask?

spongeback: Have you been to India before

Absolutely. The poverty situation in India is dire in many places. I understand what the OP is saying about keeping tradition alive and respecting their own ancestors and I absolutely think that is a positive but India is certainly not a model for poverty eradication or economic progress just yet.

In 2010 an article was published revealing that 8 Indian states have more poor than 26 poorest African nations:
http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2010-07-12/india/28276383_1_measure-ophi-multidimensional-poverty-index

The West can see through the poverty of India and recognize its potential despite the fact that is also extremely corrupt and anti-female. The West doesn't afford the same optimism to African countries and, unfortunately, neither do Africans.