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This paper analyses the claim of Sumberg [Sumberg, J., 2002. The logic of fodder legumes in Africa. Food Policy 27, 285-300] that there is a [`]logic of fodder legumes' in Africa based on an idea from Europe applied inappropriately and unsuccessfully to livestock development in Africa by those who Sumberg calls [`]colonial masters'. We suggest that Sumberg was incorrect on many technical points and policy conclusions. We find that: fodder legume use in Africa was based on local experience and traditional practices; the development of fodder grasses has been a more important research theme in Africa in the past 100 years than the development of fodder legumes; there is no strong evidence that the agricultural revolution in Europe was a major contributing factor to a [`]logic of fodder legumes' in Africa; using appropriate methodology, national and international fodder researchers have developed some successful fodder grasses and legumes in Africa, especially for [`]crop' and [`]niche' roles; and there are at least three well-documented examples of successful promotion of fodder legumes in African crop-livestock systems. Our historical path to recognizing [`]development narratives' has therefore not found any evidence that there is a [`]logic of fodder legumes' in Africa. We also query Sumberg's recommendations for a more realistic systems-based approach to fodder legume research. This need was highlighted 15 years ago and, for the past 10 years, such improved approaches are having increasing impact on productivity in and policy for African crop-livestock systems.