Racism
Racism is one of the important themes of this novel, since all the native villagers have come back but the same racial domination is being continued by white settlers. The owners of mines torture black children and rape black women. They treat black native villagers as slaves and try to dominate in various ways. At last, villagers revolt against such domination and corruption.
Rehabilitation
The villagers had left the village during the civil war. From the very beginning of the novel they are coming back one by one. They try to identify their ruined houses and huts. They meet with their neighbors and try to clean their village. Beah says, "I wanted to have people understand how it feels to return to places that have been devastated by war."
Colonialism
It is one of the most important themes in all African novels. In this novel, we see that, after settling in the villages they have to clean the dead bodies of victims, they try to reminiscence of their past and survival stories. Again, after few months they become victim of the white miners. Again, they have to revolt for their demands.
Tradition
Every African tribes have their own tradition. In Imperi, this tribal community has their own oral tradition. After their rehabilitation they stick to their old tradition. But, they are moved from their tradition again when they revolt against their victimized. At last, this novel ends in a positive note when all villagers commit never to left this village again.
