Karibu

Karibu is a female mandrill. She is a member of Jelani's troop. She is the cousin of Rafiki.
When Karibu's homeland of Grass Walls fell into disrepair under the rule of Jelani, Rafiki returned to restore order. Under his command, the troop journeyed across the desert to find a new home. Along the way, Karibu collapsed from exhaustion, and Jelani carried her safely to a jungle paradise, where the troop settled down to live.
==Biography==
===Early life===
Karibu lived in Grass Walls as a member of Khalfani's troop. She was good friends with her cousin, Rafiki, who admired her ability to hunt bird eggs.
===Move to the jungle===
When Rafiki returned to his homeland of Grass Walls, he was greeted by many of his old friends. Karibu limped up to him and grasped his hand, smiling happily at the return of her cousin. Rafiki did not immediately recognize her, and she asked if he remembered her. Slowly, a smile spread across his face, and he recognized the mandrill as his cousin, Karibu. Turning to Simba, who had come with him, he explained that he and his cousin had been very good friends when they were young and that Karibu had been the best in the troop at hunting bird eggs. He then introduced Karibu to Simba.
Simba greeted Karibu politely, then asked what was going on. Karibu explained that the water supply was drying up and that food was scarce. She added that the other animals had left long ago and that the mandrills were slowly dying. Rafiki asked why Jelani had not found them a new dwelling place, and Dalila cried out that her nephew was a lazy leader and only cared for himself. Simba and Rafiki wondered how anyone could be so selfish. Rafiki then explained that they were on their way to see Jelani and asked Karibu if she knew where he was. Karibu turned and pointed at a tree, revealing Jelani resting in its shade.
As Rafiki confronted Karibu's nephew, Karibu, Dalila, and Simba stood off to the side. In the midst of the argument, Rafiki angrily asked Karibu why no one had challenged Jelani, and Karibu explained that some had tried, but Jelani was still the strongest mandrill in the troop. Rafiki tried to object but found nothing to say.
Eventually, Rafiki won out over Jelani, and the troop was put under his leadership. The hard journey began, and Karibu, being one of the oldest mandrills in the troop, struggled to keep up with the others. Simba paced along beside her and worried for her health as she puffed for breath. She murmured about how she wanted a river or forest and commented on how vulnerable and unprotected they were. Simba surveyed the landscape and quietly agreed with her.
As the group passed through a grove of leafless acacia trees, Karibu suddenly yelled, "Watch out!" At the same moment, a leopard that had been perched in the dead branches leaped and landed on Dalila's back. The mandrills began shrieking and barking as they scattered across the plain.
When the danger was over and the mandrills were once more on their way, one of the mothers told Rafiki that she was thirsty and that her baby had nothing to drink. Rafiki assured her that they would find land soon, but Karibu asked how soon, for they were all growing steadily weaker. Rafiki merely replied, "Soon."
Later, Rafiki heard a mandrill calling his name. The troop stopped and began clustering around a mandrill lying on its side. Simba realized with shock that it was Karibu. She lay on her side, with her eyes gently closed. Rafiki knelt beside her and urged her to keep walking, but Karibu told him that her walking days were over and that the troop must go on without her. Rafiki, however, refused and told her that her time had not come yet. Jelani pushed through the crowd and urged his aunt to get up, but once again, Karibu refused. Finally, Jelani reached down and gently hoisted his aunt onto his shoulders. When the troop finally found a new home, Jelani carried his aunt to the edge of a pool and set her into the water.
==Physical appearance==
Karibu is an elderly mandrill. She is considerably thin and weak, and has lost all her teeth. Her fur is dark gray, and she has a pale underbelly, black and brown hands and feet, a shaggy white mane, and black eyes.
==Personality and traits==
Karibu is kind and selfless. She has a strong attachment to her family, as she immediately recognized Rafiki after not seeing him for countless years and continued to watch over Jelani even after he became a lazy and selfish leader. She has shown many instances of bravery and sacrifice, such as when she was willing to be left alone in the desert so the rest of her troop could reach a new home safely.
==Appearances==
* The Lion King: Six New Adventures
** Follow the Leader
==Trivia==
* Karibu's name means "nearby, near by, close, close by, at hand" or "Come in!, Welcome!" or "soon" in Swahili.
==References==
Category:Characters
Category:Females
Category:Mandrills