The Actualization of a Dream in Anthills of the Savannah

Chinua Achebe showcases such a situation in his novel, Anthills of the Savannah, wherein the fictional state of Kangan is ruled by the oppressive military dictator, Sam, who aspires to nominate himself “President for Life”. As his oppressive tactics increase, we hear voices of dissent and see the people’s dream of an improved Kangan and better conditions for themselves. Anthills of the Savannah traces the genesis and actualization of this dream through the life and ideals of Ikem Osodi – w

In essence, Beatrice is the actualization of Ikem’s dream. She is the metaphor for the affirmation of life like the anthills of the African savannah which survive to speak of the harshness of the mid-April scorching sun. She is the embodiment of the spirit of the anthills and comes across as the anti-thesis to Chris’ fragile “three green bottles.” She is seen as a crusader who cherishes and sustains Ikem’s ideals. His hopes, fervour and dreams are realized through her. His idea provides Beatrice with the impetus to assume the mantle of leadership and put Kangan on the road to improvement. Therefore, in vision, Ikem and Beatrice can be said to compliment each other, while the difference between them lies in their approach and execution. Thus, Ikem’s dream of an improved Kangan under a ‘clean’ and able ruler finds its actualization in Beatrice.

Ikem’s address at the University of Bassa examines all sections of the society in order to locate the root of the problems faced by the people. Everyone comes under his scrutiny – workers, peasants, civil servants and students – and none is spared. The speech is phenomenal for it is not merely radical and revolutionary but it is reformist as well. His lucid rhetoric is an exquisite admixture of traditional language and modern idealism. The powerful onslaught on all the classes reveal his acute sense of distress. He labels the working classes, guilty of absenteeism and low productivity, as “extra ordinary riff-raffs”. Further, the Civil Servants are decried as “plain parasites” and the elite intellectuals as “modish radicals”. Ikem proceeds to indict the students of “mediocrity” and calls them the “cream of parasites” who would rather form tribal pressure groups demanding lower admission requirements rather than striving to excel any student from anywhere. In his lecture, Ikem also addresses the all-important question of the function of the writer. The writer does not provide solutions to problems, he argues; but asks questions: “No, I cannot give you the answer you are clamouring for. Go home and think! I cannot decree your pet, text-book revolution … as a writer, I aspire only to widen the scope of self-examination.”

This breaking away from tradition suggests a new beginning, a subverting of both, the Western and the African tradition. Beatrice, by naming the child Amaechina – May the path never close, heralds the change forcing others to adapt to the present and look to the future with renewed hope.

Some topics in this essay:
Ikem Osodi, Western African, Beatrice Okoh, God Achebe, Civil Servants, Abazon Sam, Chris Ikem, University Bassa, Chris Sam, England Absolute, ikem recognises, anthills savannah, chris ikem, ikem osodi, sam’s government ikem, love letter, eye god, sections society, perceptive thinker, improved kangan, dream improved kangan, “re � form”, � form”,