This talk will focus on a long-term research project on the Western branch of the East African Rift System investigating the timing and sedimentary infill history of the rift system.  The focus is the work in the Rukwa Rift Basin, a segment of the western branch located in southwestern Tanzania, between lakes Tanganyika and Malawi.  The discussion will include evidence for synchronous development of the western and eastern branches, and geochronological and fossil evidence that supports the initiation of the Western Branch coeval with the Eastern Branch, ~15 Ma earlier previously suggested. This talk will outline both the older Cretaceous/Paleogene and younger Neogeone history of the rift, significant vertebrate fossil discoveries this team has made, and work Roberts has been involved in on resource exploration hydrocarbons, diamonds and helium in the rift system.