The exclusively afrotropical genus Gonioscelis Schiner, 1866, now containing thirty-eight species, is revised. Twenty-one previously described species are retained as valid and in most instances redescribed and illustrated: ceresae Oldroyd, 1974; congoensis Oldroyd, 1970; francoisi Oldroyd, 1970; genitalis Ricardo, 1925; haemorhous Schiner, 1867; hispidus (Wiedemann, 1819); lacertosus Engel, 1925; longulus Ricardo, 1925; macquartii (Jaennicke, 1867); maculiventris Bigot, 1879; mantis (Loew, 1852); nigripennis Ricardo, 1925; occipitalis Oldroyd, 1970; phacopterus Schiner, 1867; pruinosus Ricardo, 1925; punctipennis Engel, 1925; scapularis (Macquart, 1838); submaculatus Speiser, 1910; tomentosus Oldroyd, 1970; truncates Oldroyd, 1974; ventralis Schiner, 1867. Names accepted or newly established as synonyms are: calopus Bigot, 1879 = mantis; denticulatus Hull, 1967 = longulus; femoralis Ricardo, 1925 = ventralis; maculipennis Engel, 1925 = ventralis; melanocephalus Schiner, 1867 = hispidus; oculatus Engel, 1925 = lacertosus; rufescens Ricardo, 1925 = ventralis; setosus (Wiedemann, 1824) = hispidus; xanthopogon Speiser, 1910 = macquartii. Seventeen new species from the countries listed are described and illustrated : amnoni (Kenya, Tanzania); batyleon (Kenya); bykanistes (Namibia, South Africa); chloris (South Africa); cuthbertsoni (Zimbabwe); engeli (South Africa); exouros (South Africa); feijeni (Mozambique); hadrocantha (Angola); iota (South Africa); kedros (South Africa); melas (South Africa); pickeri (South Africa); ramphis (Botswana, South Africa); whittingtoni (Eritrea, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwe); xanthochaites (Namibia); zulu (South Africa). Tables of information relating to the distribution and phenology of all species are provided, together with an illustrated key to assist in their identification. A discussion of the taxonomy and biology of the genus is provided, along with a bibliography.