Higher education in Africa has had diverse histories and trajectories, and has played different roles over time. This article is concerned with the evolution and future of higher education on the continent, and the role that open educational resources (OER) might play therein. It is generally accepted that "the university in Africa and higher education in general remain a significant part of the overall social, economic, and cultural constitution of societies and nations." In Africa, despite many local variances, the evolution of the university and higher education in general has reflected the historical phases of colonialism, post-colonialism, and current ongoing national and regional agendas. OER Africa, an initiative of South African Institute for Distance Education (SAIDE), was established to help educators and the institutions at which they work to conceptualize, adapt, implement, and use OER to improve both the content and practice of teaching and learning. The work of OER Africa has demonstrated how OER can positively support the development and capacity of higher education systems and institutions in Africa. (Contains 1 note.)