Anthills Of The Savannah

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. What struck you most about the friendship between Chris, Ikem, and Sam before their political positions tore them apart? If you’ve read Achebe’s Things Fall Apart, did this novel’s portrayal of school-day dynamics remind you of the complex relationships in that earlier work, where personal bonds are tested by larger historical forces?

2. Achebe presents a deeply pessimistic view of postcolonial governance in Africa. Which aspects of the political deterioration felt most realistic or troubling to you as you read about the regime’s increasing authoritarianism?

3. What effect did the novel’s multiple-narrator structure have on your reading experience?

Encourage readers to connect the book’s themes and characters with their personal experiences.

1. Chris faces the dilemma of remaining in a corrupt government while trying to maintain his moral principles. Have you ever found yourself in a situation where staying within an imperfect system felt like the only way to potentially influence positive change?

2. Do you find it difficult to maintain closeness with friends who hold very different political views? Why or why not?

3. Did the novel’s portrayal of Beatrice’s character arc resonate with you? Have you seen women step into leadership roles during times of crisis?

4. The taxi drivers expect important people to drive expensive cars, revealing deep assumptions about status and power. What moments in your life have forced you to confront assumptions that you held about people from different backgrounds?

5. During times of social upheaval, do you find that major life events like births or deaths take on different meanings?

Examine the book’s relevance to societal issues, historical events, or cultural themes.

1. The novel depicts a fictional nation where drought becomes a political weapon used to punish dissenting provinces. Where do you see natural disasters or resources being weaponized for political control in contemporary global politics?

2. What parallels do you see between this fictional portrayal and real-world examples of political corruption in postcolonial nations?

3. The old man from Abazon represents traditional wisdom and storytelling in conflict with modern political systems. In what ways might Indigenous knowledge and oral traditions serve as forms of resistance against authoritarian governments today?

Dive into the book’s structure, characters, themes, and symbolism.

1. What examples of animal imagery or symbolism do you see in the novel, besides the anthills? What purpose might this natural imagery serve?

2. The three main characters represent different responses to corruption: Chris’s reluctant complicity, Ikem’s principled resistance, and Sam’s embrace of power. Which character’s journey felt most psychologically convincing to you, and do you see parallels to how characters in novels like George Orwell’s 1984 navigate life under authoritarian rule?

3. Achebe demonstrates the power of narrative through the old man’s tortoise parable and the final naming ceremony. In what other ways does he show that storytelling can be a form of political resistance?

4. Which scenes most effectively connect the physical landscape to the psychological and political conditions of the characters? What stylistic techniques help create that effect?

6. Achebe alternates between first-person and third-person narration. How do these shifts impact the novel’s atmosphere and tone? Why might Achebe have chosen to narrate particular scenes in the way he did?

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

1. Contemporary political situations around the world echo many of the themes in Anthills of the Savannah. If you were adapting the novel for today’s audience, which current events would provide the most relevant backdrop for exploring Achebe’s themes of power, corruption, and resistance?

2. If you were designing a ritual to help your own community heal after experiencing trauma, what would it look like?

3. Imagine that Chris, Ikem, and Sam had access to modern social media and digital communication during their political crisis. Which character do you think would have been most effective at using these new tools, and why?