Romance and indigenous languages coexist across many parts of Africa, creating intricate dynamics that shape national identities, influence educational systems, and inspire cultural expression.

This volume focuses on thirty-eight countries where French, Portuguese, and Spanish are spoken or faint traces of Italian persist, occasionally broadening its scope to cover the entire continent and draw comparisons with the role of English. It explores how these languages were introduced to the continent, how they have merged into African multilingual environments, developed distinctive features, and how these are perceived by different speakers, before concluding with a series of case studies that bring the discussion into sharper focus.

The outcome is the first comprehensive monograph to systematically address linguistic, sociolinguistic, and cultural topics across all Romance languages relevant to Africa. With particular attention to the accessibility of its structure, content, and languages, the volume testifies to Africa’s rich linguistic diversity and creativity, transcending colonial boundaries and giving rise to vibrant contemporary cultures.