The genus contains eleven species, all of which are found in sub-Saharan Africa.

They occupy a range of habitats, from arid scrub to lowland tropical forest.

They are intermediate in appearance between crombecs and apalis, and measure between 8.5 to 12 cm (3.3–4.7 in) in length.

[2] The genus was erected by the Swedish zoologist Carl Jakob Sundevall in 1850.

[3][4] The word Eremomela comes from the Ancient Greek erēmos for "desert" and melos for "song" or "melody".