The importance of rice in West Africa and the problem posed by pests were highlighted. Stem-borers are regarded as major insect pests of rice and available information on yield losses attributable to insect pests in general and stem-borers in particular, was reviewed. Damage caused by stem-borers usually results in “dead hearts” and “white heads” though other effects including a synergistic interaction between stem-borers and rice blast have been recorded. Survey methods and sampling of rice stem-borers were discussed and brief descriptions on distribution, behaviour and biology of the major rice stem-borers namely, Chilo spp., Maliarpha separatella, Scirpophaga spp., Sesamia spp. and Diopsis spp. were given. Current control tactics under investigation in West Africa include chemical, cultural and biological methods.