As a poet, Sa’adu Zungur wielded his pen as a weapon against colonial rule and feudal oppression, composing in Hausa to reach the hearts of the people.

His poetry was political prophecy. In Arewa Jumhuriya ko Mulukiya, he challenged the emirate system and urged a turn toward democracy. Other works like Wakar 'Yan Baka, Jihadin Neman Sawaba, and Maraba da Soja critiqued colonialism, social inequality, and the Almajiri system, warning of the consequences of neglecting education and justice.

Many of his poems were censored, but their messages endured. After his death in 1958, efforts were made to collect his works, culminating in the publication of Wakokin Sa'adu Zungur.