Rafiki (2019 film)

Rafiki is a male mandrill.
When Simba, the prince heir of Pride Rock, was born, Rafiki christened him and presented him to the animals of the Pride Lands. Once Simba was a young cub, Scar drove him from the Pride Lands but lied to the pride that both he and his father, Mufasa, had perished in a stampede. Rafiki watched Scar's coronation from afar and mourned the purported deaths of Mufasa and Simba.
Seasons later, Rafiki found a tuft of fur that belonged to Simba. Realizing that the young prince was in fact still alive, Rafiki set out in search of him and found him in self-exile in the jungle. Upon meeting Simba, Rafiki encouraged him to reclaim his birthright and facilitated his communion with Mufasa's spirit.
After the encounter, Simba returned to the Pride Lands, and Rafiki joined Simba's allies in battle against Scar and his hyena army. Eventually, the Pride Landers emerged victorious, and Rafiki looked on as Simba took his place as the rightful king of the Pride Lands. After the coronation, Simba took on Nala as his mate, and the two had a cub, whom Rafiki presented to the Pride Landers.
==Biography==
===Early life===
Rafiki lived in the Pride Lands. He worked closely with the Pride Lands monarchy and befriended its reigning king, Mufasa.
===Simba's presentation===
At Pride Rock, Rafiki presented the newborn prince, Simba, to the animals of the Pride Lands. After the ceremony, he drew a painting of Simba on his tree.
===Mufasa's death===
Seasons later, Mufasa and Simba were allegedly killed in a stampede. As the next in line for the throne, Scar assumed the mantle of king and allowed the hyenas to take over the Pride Lands. Rafiki and Zazu watched the coronation from a distance in disapproval, and Rafiki sadly wiped away his painting of Simba.
===Simba's return to the Pride Lands===
Once Simba was full-grown, a piece of his mane reached Rafiki's tree, and the mandrill realized that Simba was alive. He promptly journeyed to the jungle, where he found Simba distressed over the prospect of returning home. Rafiki revealed that he had known Simba’s father, Mufasa, then implored the young prince to follow him so that he could see his father again.
Rafiki led Simba on a chase through the jungle until they reached a pool of water, where Rafiki instructed Simba to look at his reflection. Though at first doubtful, Simba did as he was told and saw Mufasa's face in the water. He then encountered the spirit of his father, who implored him to return home. Moved by the experience, Simba agreed to return to the Pride Lands, and Rafiki cheered for him as he departed the jungle.
===Battle for Pride Rock===
Before the confrontation between Scar and Simba, Rafiki retrieved his staff from a secret place in the branches of his tree. He hastened to Pride Rock and used the staff to fend off Scar's hyena allies.
===Simba's coronation===
After Simba's allies achieved victory, Rafiki affirmed Simba's coronation and watched him ascend Pride Rock. Under Simba's reign, the Pride Lands was restored to its former glory. One morning, Rafiki presented Simba and Nala's newborn cub to the Pride Landers.
==Physical appearance==
Rafiki is an elderly mandrill who is covered in wiry gray hair. He has a short tail, brown eyes, and a long, narrow face that is marked by patches of blue and red skin. He has a thick mane of white hair that covers his head and extends down to his chin, where it forms a short goatee. Occasionally, he carries a staff of twisted wood.
==Personality and traits==
Rafiki is wise and solemn. He rarely speaks and only interferes with the doings of the Pride Lands if matters are dire. Despite his old age, he is strong-willed, stubborn, and adamant, and will assert his opinions in the face of doubts, such as when he urged a reluctant Simba to reclaim his birthright. As evidenced by his quiet tolerance of Scar's tyrannical reign, Rafiki knows his limits and elects to choose his battles rather than throw himself headlong into conflicts. However, when he does fight, he is fearless, ruthless, and more than physically capable.
==Appearances==
==Trivia==
* Rafiki was voiced by the following:
** In The Lion King, he was voiced by John Kani.
** In Mufasa: The Lion King, he will be voiced by Kagiso Lediga as a youth and John Kani as an adult.
* Rafiki's name means "friend" in Swahili.
* Rafiki frequently mutters to himself in Xhosa.
* In Bad Omens, Rafiki has a cousin named Tonga.
==References==
Category:Characters
Category:The Lion King (2019 film) characters
Category:Males
Category:Mandrills
Category:Mufasa: The Lion King characters
Category:Pride Landers