What is the theme in God's Bits of Wood by Sembene Ousmane?

On a fundamental level, the novel's action, the narrative journeys of its many characters are all defined by the theme of Discovery of Pride and Identity. Here again there are two levels of meaning, and again both are intertwined. The first is the claiming of individual pride and identity, with each of the characters striving to better their personal lot in life, struggling for respect, for freedom, for financial security, and for employment integrity. What's particularly noteworthy in this context is that each character has the same basic needs (enough food, enough water, enough money), but what constitutes respect, freedom, security and integrity is subtly different for each one.