Government Corruption
The government of Kangan is corrupt and this can be seen in its treatment of the poor in Abazon. Ikem is killed because he spoke out, and the government even tries to cover up the murder by saying it occurred in a struggle. While His Excellency began his rule with good intentions, his hunger for power grows and knows no bounds. As soon as his power is questioned, he begins to silence those who doubt him and stand in his way, including his longtime friends, Ikem and Chris. His Excellency not only wants to exterminate the people who speak out, but also the ideas they are promoting, and he does this in his attempts to discredit them after their death. The claim that Ikem advocated for regicide is an example of this. The extent of the corruption spreads into every aspect of life and every relationship that the state has with its people.
The Importance of Storytelling
Ikem is the storyteller-in the literal and in the political sense. He is the editor of the Gazette who spoke out on controversial and critical issues. The theme of storytelling begins in the cultural roots of the citizens, such as when one of the Abazon leaders says that in battle, the story is the most important element because it is everlasting. More so than the battle, the story that comes out of it is critical. While Ikem tries to do this to improve the lives of the poor and disenfranchised, those operating in favor of evil also struggle to control the story. For example, when conflict reaches its apex and Ikem is killed and Chris is forced in to hiding, His Excellency's government spreads the false story that both men were involved in a coup attempt. This is not true, but it is an attempt to give His Excellency leverage and freedom to operate as he wishes to advance his power. Controlling the narrative is critical for both factions in Anthills of the Savannah.
Women's Role in Society
This theme is mirrored in Beatrice. She is a woman in a high position, educated, well-spoken, and probably smarter than any of the men around her. Unfortunately, as a woman she isn't taken as seriously and her knowledge is overshadowed by her attractive looks. She has grown up in a conservative family, and being a fifth daughter in a family without sons, she didn't have much affection and always lived in her own world. She cynically looks upon the opinion that women are better off married, even to a lower-class man, than being alone. Women's role in society is also introduced by Ikem's love letter to Beatrice where he recognizes the oppression of women throughout ages in the form of religion or societal rules. This theme is emphasized repeatedly through Beatrice's ability to remain levelheaded and calm during moments of extreme stress. She is a quiet leader of Chris, Ikem, and Elewa during the most chaotic moments of the novel.
Irrationality of a Despot
At the beginning of the novel, Chris tries to appease His Excellency and believes that there may be an opportunity to operate from a place of reason. As the novel progresses, however, it becomes clear how irrational His Excellency's despotic behavior is. There is no reasoning with it or tempering it—His Excellency will do what he wants, when he wants, and how he wants. Chris realizes that he can not negotiate with someone who behaves like this, but it takes the majority of the novel for him to accept the irrationality of his friend's behavior. There is no point in being reasonable or pacifying His Excellency, as he will do as he pleases no matter what.
Absolute Power Corrupts Absolutely
His Excellency is an example of the old adage, "absolute power corrupts absolutely." While he did not set out to have absolute power and initially shunned the idea of ruling for life, he soon ignores past statements, betrays his friends, and ultimately lies to the public in order to advance his own agenda. He is willing to do anything to protect his power—silencing protesters, spreading misinformation, and assassinating those who stand in his way. The drive for absolute power, and to protect his absolute power, drives him to corruption.
Perception vs. Reality
Throughout the novel, the characters struggle with the tension between perception and reality. This occurs in multiple places, such as between Ikem and Chris, Chris and His Excellency, and the elites and the lower classes. Ikem and Chris perceive their relationship to be much more contentious than it actually is. Chris perceives His Excellency to be less threatening and worrisome than he actually is. Most notably, the elites in Bassa cannot see the realities that are true for the rest of the country. There is immense poverty and struggle throughout the country, but they are unable and unwilling to see it from Bassa.
Pervasiveness of Corruption
In Anthills of the Savannah, the corruption of His Excellency dominates as an overarching theme, but there is more time and attention dedicated to the ways in which the minions of the government perpetuate this corruption than the actual acts of His Excellency. The behavior of His Excellency sets the tone for the rest of the administration, who has a more direct impact on the well-being and experiences of the citizens of Kangan. The best example of this is the behavior of the police force, from accepting bribes from the bus drivers to the attempted rape that ultimately leads to Chris' death. While the reader is primarily concerned with the corruption of His Excellency, ultimately, it is the corrupt acts of the nameless and less significant characters that lead to the death of Chris. These ancillary characters' corrupt actions have major ramifications for the plot and for the civic health of Kangan.
