Single Parenthood
The story centers on the social issues faced especially by women through economic challenges and absent fathers. Though Timi was a married woman a turn of events renders her a single mother in a rural area. After her husband cheats and abandons the family Timi loses her job due to her unmarried status. Furthermore, the story delves into the challenges of raising young children as a single mother. It highlights the lack of enough time to focus both on breadwinning and motherhood.
Poverty
Set in an African country where the big wealth gap between the rich and poor is prevalent, the story has poverty as a major motif. The family migration from the urban city to a rural area showcases the economic disparity that exists in the nation. In Niger Delta the family experience a lack of amenities such as running water and power. Moreover, the hardships that residents run into while making a living that barely provides for basic needs. It explores the type of occupations that rural dwellers have to settle for because of a shortage of necessary resources.
Female Genital Mutilation
The plight of women is illustrated in the plot as the female characters contend with African traditions that hound women. Specifically, the narrator highlights a major threat to the African girl and that is the female gender mutilation. The subject is explored from a point of view of the rift that exists between modern science and traditions. However, the practice is part of the culture for some communities it has proven to be detrimental and fatal. Thus the author probes into this outdated practice that threatens the wellbeing of the girl child in African communities.
Capitalism
While the story demonstrates the high poverty level in the region it also shows the dark side of capitalism. It highlights the oil situation that has been an area of contention in western African regions. Corporate greed, foreign investments, and political instability have allowed for oil mining that heavily affects the local residents. In essence, the oil companies do more damage than the benefits than the economic opportunities they offer. While the activity causes pollution, deaths, health issues, and fires the villages remain poor and unemployed.
Religion
The characters practice different religions, which is a basis of debate in their lives and the story in general. Timi is a Christian woman raising her children as Christians too. Whereas their relocation to Niger Delta finds them have to grapple with the practices of African traditions in the rural setting. Furthermore, the presence of other faiths finds the beliefs of certain family members collide with each other.
