Rape
The most recurring motif in the book is rape. The protagonist of the novel is the product of rape and she strives to help those who suffered the trauma of identity crisis and humiliation by society. The author has demonstrated how the victims of rape are considered as social outcasts and they are constantly tormented by the society. Najeeba suffered the humiliation after being sexually assaulted by Diab and she was compelled to raise her child in isolation from her tribe. The author has given accounts of wartime rapes and the exploitation of black women throughout the novel. Through the motif of rape, the author has promulgated how the men snatch the autonomy of women and they keep their desires before the rights of women.
Shame
Onyesonwu was considered as a symbol of shame by the society and she was called Ewu, a child of mix race, which symbolizes that she was the child of a black woman who was raped by a white man. She is not given the due respect by her community and in an attempt to save her family from the shame of an action over which they had no control, Onyesonwu becomes a strong, logical and a politically aware person. Onyesonwu's mother was thrown out of her community and she lived away from her tribe in order to raise her child.
Victims
Onyesonwu and Mwita symbolize all the children who were born as a result of the sexual assault of their mothers. They suffered humiliation and identity crisis, and this was the reason which compelled them to assist others. Onyesonwu wanted to help all those people who passed through the same fate, torments and humiliation. Mwita helped her in becoming stronger and in realizing her powers and capabilities. Onyesonwu feels herself being trapped in her body and suffers the mental anguish but despite of this entrapment, she urges to freed the soul of others. Mwita assists her, who was her friend, love interest and mentor as well. in her struggle of survival and in her journey of becoming a savior.
Death
Another recurrent motif in the book is death. The title of the novel also indicates towards the fear of death and it was because of the fear of death that Onyesonwu's mother ran away from her village. She names her daughter as Onyesonwu which means who fears death and the daughter was not afraid of death. The genocide of her tribe compels her to embark on a journey of revenge. She wanted to kill those who inflicted death upon her tribe. Onyesonwu embraces death at the end of the novel because of her journey.
