Globally, freshwater ecosystems are threatened. Research progress concerning African freshwater snails was reviewed using a systematic review process. Since 1757, the number of publications produced has increased, particularly in the last decade. In the first 50 years (1757-1800), 0.1% of publications on freshwater snails in Africa were conducted, followed by 0% (1801-1850), 3.3% (1851-1900), 3.5% (1901-1950) and 48.7% (1951-2000). The last 23 years (2001-2024) exhibited a large increase (44.3%) in publications of the total conducted. Studies on freshwater snails varied in number across the 10 major African water basins, with the majority of studies in the Nile (21.7%), followed by the Congo Basin (17.6%) and Niger (12.4%). The Orange Basin and Lake Tanganyika also received a high number of studies (10.9%) and (7.2%), respectively. Most freshwater snail study objectives related to conservation and taxonomy (70%), followed by disease vector (20.5%), with genetics/genomic/DNA barcoding/eDNA receiving significant focus as well (5.2%). Studies focusing on geology and palaeontology (2.5%), followed by climate change (1.5%) and machine learning (0.4%). The modern phase in the study of African freshwater snails came around the early 20th century with the discovery of