Social and Power Relations in Achebe's Anthills of the Savannah

Abstract

People are related to one another in one way or another in societies. In those social relationships, power is sometimes implicated, directly or indirectly. In this work, we particularly base the analysis on social relations and political power relations. We notice a problem of relation in societies, especially when political leadership is involved and that has given us the first impetus to carry out the work. A typical example of social relation is seen in Anthills of the Savannah between Sam, Chris, Ikem, and Beatrice before this relation results in a power relation between Sam, Chris, and Ikem when they all engage in power management. A power relation that eventually destroys the social one they have cherished so far. The purpose of this work is two-fold. Firstly, it aims at drawing African people’s attention to the status of their social relations without power and when political leadership is involved; and secondly to power relation they cherish with the power holders.