The Social Relevance of Achebe’s Anthills of the Savannah

Abstract

Among the works of Chinua Achebe, Anthills of the Savannah stands out as a radical approach to a lot of social issues. These issues range from the problem of leadership to the role of women in a society dominated by patriarchy. Many scholars have looked at this 
novel as a deviation from what “Achebe and sons” are known for, others see it as Achebe’s attempt to exonerate himself from the blackmail of anti female writing based on his novels before Anthills of the Savannah. This researcher while considering whatever has been said about the novel is poised to explore the social relevance of such novel as Anthills of the Savannah which mirrors the beginning to the end of all the chauvinistic approaches to the act of leadership by men with an overwhelming nepotism, greed, and avarice that practically destroyed the gains of the young nation Kangan after their hard earned independence as nation. Notwithstanding that this nation has both human and material resources to sustain the independence and grow all facets as a nation yet the internal heat generated by the leadership personae destroy both the men and all they laboured for. The paper carefully declares that everyone is important in nation building and should be given equal opportunity to develop and participate in the processes of national development. For nation building is all embracing