AbstractThis chapter discusses linguistic divergence and convergence processes from a dialectological and areal viewpoint so as to better understand the challenges that defining Africa’s linguistic macro- and micro-profile presents. The dialectology part focuses on a case study of dialectometry classification founded on Berber geolinguistic data, whereas the part on linguistic geography contrasts the different current approaches to the African territory. The chapter emphasizes that the study of language variation, change, and diffusion in Africa is in need of research which is more objective, integrating without intermingling genetic and non-genetic concepts and results, and also takes into account both the linguistic (system-internal) and the extralinguistic (social, geographical, ecological, historical) context.