Gender and Power in Chinua Achebe’s Anthills of the Savannah

Abstract

Chinua Achebe’s Anthills of the Savannah presents a powerful exploration of gender and power in postcolonial Africa. Unlike his earlier works that center male protagonists, this novel gives significant space to female voices, especially through the character of Beatrice, who emerges as a symbol of strength, intelligence, and resilience. Set in the fictional West African country of Kangan, the novel depicts a military dictatorship where power is centralized, abused, and highly gendered. While men like Sam (His Excellency) dominate the political landscape through violence and control, Achebe introduces Beatrice as a counterforce—a woman who challenges patriarchal authority and participates actively in the intellectual and political life of her society. This article examines how gender roles are constructed, contested, and transformed in the novel. Achebe uses Beatrice not only to critique the male-dominated political systems but also to suggest a new vision of inclusive leadership rooted in empathy and shared responsibility. The novel highlights how female voices, though often silenced, possess the potential to question oppression and offer alternatives to authoritarian rule. In a society marked by fear and silence, Beatrice's courage and wisdom become a beacon of hope for democratic  change. This study argues that Achebe, through Anthills of the Savannah, moves beyond traditional portrayals and gives a central role to gender in the discussion of power, politics, and nationhood.