<p>Climate change presents profound challenges to agricultural systems across Africa, particularly in regions dependent on rain-fed farming and characterized by limited adaptive capacity. Traditional agroforestry, which integrates trees with crops and livestock, has been employed for generations and is increasingly recognized as an effective strategy for climate change adaptation. This systematic review synthesizes empirical evidence on the contribution of traditional agroforestry to climate resilience across African agroecological zones. Guided by the PRISMA framework, peer-reviewed English and French language studies published between 2015 and 2025 were identified through Web of Science, ProQuest, and Scopus, with 40 studies meeting inclusion criteria for detailed analysis. Findings indicate that traditional agroforestry enhances adaptive capacity by improving soil fertility and structure (89.3% of studies), increasing water infiltration and retention (60.7%), moderating local microclimates (42.9%), supporting biological pest regulation (35.7%), and diversifying livelihoods (71.4%). Across multiple regions, these systems were associated with higher crop productivity (92.9%), reduced vulnerability to drought and erratic rainfall, strengthened food security, and enhanced livelihood resilience among smallholder farmers. However, six studies (21.4%) documented negative outcomes attributed to poor species selection, inadequate spacing, water scarcity, and insecure tenure. Persistent barriers to adoption include land tenure insecurity (55% of studies), limited extension services (47.5%), delayed economic returns (42.5%), and policy fragmentation (27.5%). The review underscores traditional agroforestry as a context-specific, scalable adaptation strategy. Policy interventions that integrate indigenous knowledge, enhance access to extension services and planting materials, and provide institutional support are critical to realizing its full adaptive potential in Africa.</p>