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Anthills of the Savannah Summary
Set in the fictitious West African country of Kangan, Anthills of the Savannah opens with a meeting of the regime's president and his Cabinet. The government has been in place for two years, since a coup overthrew the former dictator. Three men, friends since childhood, have assumed important positions in the new system. Sam is the president, Chris Oriko is the Commissioner of Information, and Ikem Osodi is the editor of the government-controlled newspaper, the National Gazette. Ikem is an intellectual and a poet who is very outspoken about the need to reform the government. Chris acts as a mediator between Ikem and Sam.
Sam has become a leader without regard for his people, seeking only to acquire more power for himself by any means necessary. Chris and Ikem realize that Sam is rapidly becoming a dictator. They helped get him appointed to the position, even encouraging him when he felt that his military background was inadequate preparation for a position of such importance. Now, Chris and Ikem regret their previous support of their friend and seek to control Sam in their own ways. Meanwhile, Sam's obsession with power has made him paranoid and temperamental. When Sam decides he wants to be elected ‘‘President-for-Life,’’ a national referendum is called, but the region of Abazon refuses to participate. Sam in turn denies the region access to water despite a drought, expecting that without water or food the people will give in. When delegates from Abazon arrive at the capital on a mission for mercy, Sam suspects that they are actually planning an insurrection. In fact, his paranoia leads him to believe that the insurrection is being assisted by someone close to him.
Although Chris is aware of how dangerous Sam is becoming, he believes that by staying in his government position he can serve his country. Meanwhile, Ikem's editorials are becoming more radical, and...
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Anthills of the Savannah Homework Help Questions
What are the themes in "Anthills of the Savannah" by Achebe?
The difficulty of overcoming a system of political unrest is one of the central themes of the novel. Under a rule driven by power as opposed to respect, the people are unable to figure out...
How does "Anthills of the Savannah" relate to the theory of post colonialism?
Post-colonialism refers to the situation that exists in countries that were once colonies but were abandoned by their invading force. There is a group of literature and artwork that is heavily...
What are some examples of corruption in "Anthills of the Savannah"?
The best place for you to start is with a character analysis of Sam. He is the major force of corruption and misuse of power in the novel. Sam is obviously someone who was untrained and unprepared...
What is the role of women in Anthills of the Savannah?
Women play an important role in Anthills of the Savannah. The author, Chinua Achebe, is notable for portraying women as strong, believable characters. Women are instrumental as keepers of...
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