African trade unions have evolved from an early focus on working conditions and workplace issues to addressing colonial racism and oppression and then joining forces with anti-colonial and national liberation struggles. They have pursued the democratization of their polities and are now actively engaged in addressing political-economic policy issues, including the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). This journey has also marked the changing structures and features of trade unions in Africa, enabling them to grow and adapt to the evolving needs of the workplace and the ongoing challenges facing African people in their pursuit of development and progress.