We call this bird Riti or Dendera in Shona language. This bird makes deep rhythmic sound which can be heard more than 3 km away. I used to see and hear these birds every time I visited my grandma in Bikita , Masvingo. When I asked my grandma what these birds say this is what she told me, -
“the female ground hornbill tells her husband that her child is lost( riti riti Mwana arasika) then the husband several kilometers away replies that don’t worry we will have enough food(ndizvo ndizvo tigute sadza). “

We used to sing to this,” riti riti Mwana arasika , ndizvo ndizvo tigute sadza”. We would imitate these birds’ rhythm and rhyme. Drawing this bird rejuvenated those memories I shared with my late grandmother. May her soul rest in peace.

Riti - Dendera is no longer available, but you may be interested in these artworks: