Why have Asian nations kept up their languages, cultures and faiths much more than African nations?

[Tooting Carmen]

Well in south asia english is used at an elite level as well. Its not just in africa. At home or with peers, africans speak their native languages and same with south asians.

If you think about it, many asian countries got their religions from outside as well. Philippines, Korea are majority christian. SE asia got buddhism, islam from outside as well.

Since when did Korea become majority Christian? As for your other points, I understand them. However, I'd still say that Hindi and Urdu seem to have more prestige in India and Pakistan respectively (to say nothing of Bengali in Bangladesh) than the likes of Swahili and Yoruba do in their native countries. I'd also still say that, countries like Indonesia and Philippines notwithstanding, the encroachment of both Christianity and Islam in East Asia was less severe than in most of Africa.

[AdrianV]

Both continents have been heavily impacted by Islamic and Western colonialism. Therefore, why have Asian nations nevertheless managed to keep their homegrown religions - Buddhism, Taoism, Confucianism, Hinduism, Sikhism etc - along with their own languages and cultures as the dominant forces in their own countries? This is in contrast to most African nations, where the official language - at least at elite level - is usually English or French, and the dominant religion is almost always Christianity or Islam, and where traditional cultures are mostly confined to the countryside.

The elite class of some African nations is western. Doesn't mean the bulk of the population is.

[Tooting Carmen]

The elite class of some African nations is western. Doesn't mean the bulk of the population is.

Yes but even 'ordinary' Africans are much more likely to be Christian and to speak English or French than 'ordinary' Asians are.

[AdrianV]

Yes but even 'ordinary' Africans are much more likely to be Christian and to speak English or French than 'ordinary' Asians are.

Former colonies of those countries.

[Tooting Carmen]

Former colonies of those countries.

But my point is that most Asian countries were colonised (or else heavily influenced) by Western countries too, yet its legacy is rather less pervasive in everyday life than in much of Africa.

[Tooting Carmen]

bump

[Adrianv2]

But my point is that most Asian countries were colonised (or else heavily influenced) by Western countries too, yet its legacy is rather less pervasive in everyday life than in much of Africa.

Most of these African countries are not Western in any real way. Not sure where you are getting this.