Recently, hydrology has become a significant academic discipline as major environmental, economic, and geopolitical issues point to the crucial role rivers and other water bodies play in development. Emerging global issues such as climate change, food scarcity, and sustainability of aquatic life cannot be effectively addressed without recourse to hydrological processes and the impact of rivers in addressing these issues. Much of the existing literature has focused on recurring themes in hydrological research, including the cultural histories of rivers and their contributions to the political and economic development of specific communities and human civilizations at large. This book expounds on these fundamental issues by delimiting research focus to the African continent while expanding on topical issues.

African rivers – not only major international rivers such as Nile, Congo, and Zambezi, but also local or regional rivers – are vital components of the continent's ecology and culture, playing a crucial role in shaping landscapes, supporting ecosystems, and sustaining human life. Reflecting Africa's geological history, climate variability, and ecological diversity, these rivers hold significant ecological, political, economic, and sociocultural importance. However, their exploitation and sustainability face numerous challenges due to human activities, transboundary conflicts, and climate change. Organized into three sections, each of which explores a major theme related to the study of rivers, this book presents a detailed exposition of the cultural histories of African rivers and their contributions to the transformation of human civilizations in pre-modern history as well as contemporary developments in sociocultural, economic, and political spheres at both national and international levels.