The Afrotropical species of Trichardis Hermann, 1906 are reviewed, and the first species to be recorded from the Oriental Region is described. Brief descriptions are provided for all Afrotropical species studied, and keys supplied for their identification. The following new species are described: Afrotropical T. abdelkuri (Yemen), crassipala (Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger), eburacta (Ivory Coast, Nigeria), effrena (Namibia, South Africa), glabra (Gambia), hesperia (Gambia, Senegal), lavignei (Somalia), malawi (Malawi, Tanzania, Zimbabwe), mellina (Eritrea), ornata (Chad), similis (Malawi), spicata (Mozambique), zinidi (Kenya, Tanzania); Oriental T. indica (India). The previously described species are redescribed: T. apicalis Oldroyd, 1974; cribrata (Loew, 1858); grisescens Engel, 1924; katangaensis Oldroyd, 1970; leucocoma (Wulp, 1899); nigrescens (Ricardo, 1903); picta Hermann, 1906; pohli Geller-Grimm, 2002; rueppelii (Wiedemann, 1828); terminalis Oldroyd, 1974; testacea (Macquart, 1838); turneri Oldroyd, 1974. A lectotype of Hoplistomera leucocoma Wulp, 1899 has been designated. The following new synonymies have been established: Trichardis lucifer Oldroyd, 1974 = Trichardis picta Hermann, 1906; Triclis rufescens Austen, 1914 = Trichardis leucocoma (Wulp, 1899).