Autism spectrum disorder is a highly heritable neurodevelopmental disorder. More than 100 genetic polymorphisms have been associated with autism spectrum disorder, with Africa having greater genetic diversity than any other continent. Without doubt, because of this, genetic studies of autism in Africa could provide unique insights into the pathogenesis of the disorder. Environmental risk factors for autism are poorly understood, but the incidence of the risk factors associated with autism in high-income countries, such as pre-eclampsia, placental insufficiency, prolonged labour, induced labour, birth asphyxia, pre-term birth, and low birthweight, are also common in Africa. here is very little data on the prevalence of autism in Africa, even though this region has a population of nearly 1 billion, 40% of whom are children younger than 14 years. Although, in recent years, public-health emphasis in sub-Saharan Africa has been on communicable conditions such as HIV, malaria, and tuberculosis, with the reduction in childhood mortality rates in the past two decades, noncommunicable diseases (especially neurodevelopmental disorders) are likely to become a greater health burden in these countries.