please you may have to clear this one up for me, first is witchcraft exclusive to Africa? it is a popular practice in the most modern countries in the world, there are many traditional practices european countries hold on to from way back, does this make them primitive? Like you said progress does not mean losing identity. I think there is more to what you want to put across, am i right? if so then please put me in the picture because from what i read the only thing i take issue with is the circumcison thing, otherwise what else is the reason you call african nations primitive?

nilla:

All they need to know is that we have to strive hard to make ourselves comfortable (money is not always it, e.g in nigeria if you have lots of money you will still end up in hold ups on the road the same way others do).
I think we just have to try and change our mentality. Not going in search of money alone, but also seeking to develop ourselves and our environment.

Yes i agree with you.
Now the trying to change the mentality is the difficult part

mamaput:

I do not think they are Primitive Or Just Conservative?.
I think they are just big pretenders

ochi-aha:


Africans are primitive and very superstitious in their reasoning. In an age of reason where everything can be logically explained, Africans still hold on unquestioning to age old beliefs and practices which has held the continent backward economically and technologically.

The mind-set of Africans have to be re-oriented through education, teaching of civics in schools, exposure to technological products and designs at very early ages ( Japanese children aged between 8-10 years have a national Robotics production competition where they design Toy Robots, Cars etc and this competition is taken very seriously in that country), exposure to IT savvy products and appliances also from a very early age.

If the above steps can be taken then, we shall move from a backward third world country to one that is truly on its way to industrialisation and technological achievement.

okada_man:

Technically, Japanese pikin are behind our pikin.

I see many small small Nigerian pikin making recycled toys from refuse materials before the age on 3.

When oyinbo children are still doing ewwww eww all over the place, our Naija street pikin don recycle toy from discarded tire, rewire copper and broken bottle. Saving their parents money and the environment all at once.

Japanese and oyinbo pikin nor fit.

Hertsnite:

primitive

omonozozo:

Eurphoria:

First of all, thanks for your reply.

I need to clarify this: I am not saying that African people are primitive. I want to start a discussion on whether the reluctance to move with the times is due to a so-called "primitiveness", or if it is because a lot of Africans are conservative and therefore unwilling to move with the times.
My view is that many Africans are conservative, but their conservatism is outdated, and not in the best interests of African society and development.

Take the Masai, for example. Why won't they change from being nomadic cattle-rearers to being modern farmers, which would be sustainable and thus make more sense? This is a case of counterproductive conservatism.

A lot of customs practiced in Africa today go as far back as the stoneage. Examples of this include tribal marks, wearing animal skins like in parts of South Africa.

Let's get this clear: I am not saying that Africans should abandon their traditions and completely succumb to Western customs and practices. But I do believe that Africans need to contemporarise their traditions and customs so that they will better fit in todays's modern world and not hinder Africa's progress.
Fashion, again, is a good example. The Ashanti traditional garment, which has been worn for hundreds of years, is still worn today by many Ashanti at important international televised events. It just looks totally inappropriate! An even better example are the Zulu, who insist on wearing animal skins at important events because they believe it makes them look more distinguished, when in fact it just looks extremely outdated. WTF?? It's not just a question of taste; it also results in the Western world viewing Africans as "primitive".
Some Nigerian ethnic groups (e.g. Yoruba), on the other hand, have done a brilliant job of putting a modern spin on their traditional garments. That way, they preserve their culture without looking outdated - in fact, traditional dress looks very distinguished and far superior to the standard suit and tie.

This mindset of holding on to outdated customs, come what may, hinders Africa's progress because it stops Africans from aspiring to become better and compete with the rest of the world economically. The revolution needs to begin in the mind. Africa should endeavour to constantly improve and update, in order to keep up with today's modern and competitive world.

I hope I haven't offended anyone with my views; this isn't my intention. It's just a thought. I'm interested in what other people have to say about this.

Those who don't evolve will soon become extinct - it's a law of nature.

I'll get off my soapbox now.

ziga:

First of all, some of the practices that you used as examples to regarding Africa being primitive vs conservative anre outdated and generally discouraged. e.g. female circumcision, tribal marks

ziga:

People are people regardless. And if you expose the western/civilized man to our environment, he will very likely start to act the same way.

ziga:

So, my point is we adapt to the resources and environment that we have around us. If you are truly objective and seek to understand why people do what they do, you will understand. But people prefer to look from outside without understanding and make judgement.

Roland17:

For any Development and Economic advancement to be sustainable they must be culturally alligned, African nations have become conformists amongst league of nations, with no true identity to alter any change or development, we swallow hook, line and sinker the development strategies of western nations, forgetting that development is in born and can only start to breed from the inside.