In his in-depth historical study of African armies, Edgerton (2004) argues that the armies of the continent shifted over time from honor to infamy. Other popular interpretations describe African armies as “unprofessional,” “irrelevant” and “dangerous” (Howe 2005). Is this the case? And if so, why? Today, nearly sixty years after the first wave of independence swept across the African continent, what do we know about the nature of African armies, about their evolution over time and their positioning at the crossroads of the interests of States, leaders, civil society and all components of the international community? This article examines the state of knowledge and debates surrounding African armies. It offers an interpretation and concrete examples to contextualize the issue.