The poor community
This is the imagery suggested by the title and reaffirmed by the descriptions of Azaro's village. He lives in a tribal community in Africa that is plagued by poverty and illness. The families in town are up against serious problems that they don't actually have the means to solve, so the community is sliding evermore into chaos. Azaro's experience of the spiritual realm is in some ways a reflection of the community's need for extra information. The community is ripe for spiritual activity because the families are often very desperate.
The spiritual realm
Azaro has a unique relationship to the spiritual realm. Although many in his community live spiritual lives, and sometimes they do see ghosts and spirits, Azaro basically always sees ghosts and spirits. The novel shows through imagery that Azaro's life is sometimes quite horrifying, and the tone of horror continues, but as time goes by, Azaro gains power over the sublime elements of his mind. Instead of being a psychic victim of ghost hauntings, he becomes a sorcerer who can control the spirits.
Dysfunction and mental health
In Azaro's home, the abstract imagery of dysfunction and mental imbalance is plainly obvious. He longs for a place to feel calm and relaxed, but his father is possessed by the extreme concerns of alcoholism and poverty. He lacks the peace to make a home that can serve his family in those ways, so instead, the home becomes a kind of dungeon. Azaro wants to leave, but he isn't allowed to leave. He can sometimes escape for a while, but before long, he finds himself returned to his father's dominion where he witnesses dysfunction through verbal and physical abuse.
Violence and heroism
This is a clever use of imagery. Through a tonal shift, the depiction of violence in Azaro's home becomes a depiction of heroism. Azaro's father decides to be a boxer. This decision gives him an outlet for his abusive, violent tendencies, and the change of pace is welcomed by Azaro. Azaro trains his own father by summoning spirits for him to fight with. The elemental dance of psyche, spirit, and strength is finally arranged in a productive dynamic, and the family's fate improves.
