At a time when alarming numbers of people with HIV/AIDS seek help under cover of darkness, deeply ashamed of their plight, it is crucial to find ways to better comprehend and address the specific nature of stigma around HIV/AIDS in southern Africa. Drawing on a cross-disciplinary, critical review of academic literature on this issue, the authors explore a range of theoretical approaches to conceptualising stigma. In highlighting the theoretical and methodological approaches that are most relevant in southern Africa, this study has the potential to significantly strengthen the theoretical base for future research in this crucial new area.