The known African Ephemeridae presently consists of three genera and seven nominal species. Adults and larvae ofAfromera evaesp.n. aredescribed from The Gambia. The genusAfromerais recognized as being distinct fromEphemeraand is evidently equivalent to the subgenusDicrephemera(ofEphemera)which is thus synonymized. Larvae of African Ephemeridae are keyed to genus, and adults are keyed to species. Thestudy of African burrowing may flies may be advanced by sampling the insect drift of large silt‐bottomed rivers for the poorly known larvae. The biogeographical affinities of the Ephemeridae of Africa (south of the Sahara) lie with tropical Asia and not with other southern continents. Evolution and dispersal probably were not affected by continental drift. Ecological differences betweenAfromeraandEphemeraare predicted to be relatively consistent throughout the Afro‐Asian area.