The paper analyzes industrialization experience in sub - Saharan Africa in the last three decades. Focusing on ten key countries, it draws conclusions about the impact of the initial conditions, the external environment, strategies and policies on past industrial development and identifies critical issues for future industrial policy. The analysis centers around three major themes. First, the inward-looking strategy of industrialization, as it was implemented in most African countries, generally increased dependence on imports and was not supported by policies to promote a growing surplus of domestic inputs. Second, vigorous public sector investment or take-over has been widely used to expand basic industries and reduce foreign domination, but pursuit of multiple objectives and over-extension have resulted in disappointing public sector financial performance and efficiency. The third theme concerns the incentive structure created by price, trade, investment and other policies. The paper highlights the critical issues for self-sustained, efficient industrialization. Key strategic questions are the appropriate balance between agriculture and industry and between large- and small-scale sectors, and the appropriate public sector role and intervention points.