This study involves the evolution of the application of Appreciative Inquiry (AI) in Africa through a content analysis of 100 journal articles published between 1984 and 2018. AI first emerged in 1984 in the United States as a sharp departure from traditional Organization Development (OD) interventions. A number of studies have reported on the international application of AI; however, this is the first study to focus on a comprehensive exploration of published AI works, particularly in African countries. The study findings include A) the countries in which AI has been applied, B) the type of organization, C) the type of AI intervention, and D) the level of success using Robert Golembiewski's four-rating factors and multi-rater analysis. Implications of AI within the context of a major historical African period with particular reference to AI as a positive response to colonialism, neocolonialism, neoliberalism as well as the emerging new Africa are discussed.