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Petersham spent a number of years in Micronesia, Haiti, Kenya, and Tanzania as a research and design consultant. His inspiration for "Zambabue Bird" came from African mythology. Though no further explanation was provided, in African culture, the spirits of the dead are believed to linger around and influence the world of the living. The dead communicate with the living in different ways; if they take any visible shape, it is often that of an animal — most likely a snake, bird, or a mantis.
Many African tribes also believed that the bird was the highest state of perfection and form of life. In other words, when a human soul reaches the highest state, it becomes a bird.