The title Anthills of the Savannah is a very relevant metaphor for the novel it represents. An anthill is a massive accomplishment for a group of ants: it is both a symbol of strength and protection as well as a home and a collective space for many ants. In the story, the society is exactly like this. While it has been taken over by a political coup—to instill His Excellency Sam as the leader—it is shown that Kangan will not go quietly.

The nation of Kangan is the people's pride and joy: their protection and their homeland, much like an anthill is for ants. Therefore, when it is threatened by the leader Sam, the people band together in droves (once again reminiscent of ants in their number), and overthrow him to restore the nation to its rightful status.

Anthills, both metaphorically and literally, contain strength and numbers not readily visible on the surface.  In Achebe's novel, a few examples of this truism are the represenations of the power of writers.  Writers are often a force that work below the radar of those in power.  The storyteller is the one who carries the "seed" from one place to another, thus assuring the continuance of the people.  As Ikem says, "it is only the story that can continue beyond the war and the warrior … The story is our escort; without it, we are blind.’’ 

Another source of unrealized power is the strength of women.  In an anthill, the queen is all-powerful.  Without her, there would be no reason to survive.  Even though the "queen" exists below the surface and is frequently unseen, it is she who perpetuates the race and makes its existence meaningful. 

How is the title Anthills of the Savannah relevant to the novel?

The people of Kangan used to be ruled by military force and colonial rule. While they have come together to build a new government based on democracy and the voice of the people, there are some who would prefer the rule of a dictator. Those who benefited from the dictator are working to reestablish his oversight of Kangan and its people.

The Anthills of the Savannah is a fitting title because of the visual it suggests. Ants come together to build a home where they work as a community. Everyone has a job, and they all reap the rewards of their efforts. An anthill, however, is vulnerable. It only takes a larger animal to stomp on top of it and it'll be destroyed. Since Kangan is only one of many communities attempting to rebuild in a post-colonial world, it's also only one of many anthills spread across the Savannah. It takes only one dictator to destroy the structures that they put in place and knock their anthill down.

How is the title Anthills of the Savannah relevant to the novel?

In nature, an anthill represents a remarkable collective achievement in which a large group of little creatures comes together to build something that will endure. It's not surprising, therefore, that Achebe should use this striking metaphor for the title of this book. For the story is primarily concerned with the efforts of the civilian government of Kangan and its people to build a lasting democracy in a country scarred by the legacy of colonialism and military dictatorship.

The thing about anthills, though, is that they're always vulnerable to being destroyed by much bigger, more powerful creatures than the ants who built them. In Kangan, such creatures are represented by the supporters of the former dictatorship. They're determined to destroy the "anthills," those structures of democracy put in place since they were overthrown, and return to power.

How is the title Anthills of the Savannah relevant to the novel?

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