Loss
Repeatedly throughout his poetry, Okigbo expresses a deep sense of loss. He takes a melancholy tone in much of his writing, as if in mourning. Doubtless this is the result of his topics -- heartbreak, animal extinction, and iconoclasm. As a member of the Biafra movement, he understood the intimate pain of loss. The movement was never taken seriously until war broke out in Nigeria. Okigbo joined and eventually was killed during the war. Before that, however, he wrote about the pain of loss in all of his poems. For example, "Love Apart" is a short poem devoted to the end of a relationship.
Writing as Prophecy
Okigbo writes about himself as a town crier, a person who informs townspeople of the latest news who is also an authority figure. Through his writing, he attempts to do just that. He considers himself to be a prophet, predicting the future with his words. Unfortunately Okigbo has long been unappreciated for his precautions, especially during his lifetime. In "Hurrah for Thunder" he expresses a frustration about this, claiming he will cease to prophecy soon for fear of angering the gods with his meaningless words. As a writer, Okigbo takes himself seriously, desiring to do something powerful with his influence. He doesn't wish to risk writing out of vanity.
Nature
Writing about Africa, Okigbo continually references its natural resources. He speaks fondly and tenderly of the animals and various African landscapes. Each of his poems are grounded in nature imagery, which reminds readers of Okigbo's particular focus upon Africa. From deserts to jungles, he mentions all of it. Interesting to note, he discusses elements of nature through personification. This is a common practice among tribal peoples such as the Native Americans of the plains. Living in harmony with the animals and in fact all of nature is a natural desire for Okigbo and his audience.
The Passage of Time
Again, Okigbo writes with a mournful, melancholy tone. He continually expresses a distaste for the unavoidable passage of time, taking great care to point out its significance. When talking about the elephants in "Hurrah for Thunder," he focuses on the temporal element of their existence as a species. He urges his readers not to forget that the elephants once ruled the jungle, although now they are an afterthought to hunters. The land which once belonged to the elephants is now being developed for farming. Naturally resulting from his personal experience with the changing times, Okigbo's writing seamlessly connects the ideas of iconoclasm and reverence. He desires for progress and simultaneously fears the arrogance which stems from disrespecting or ignoring history.
