Basi

Basi is a male hippopotamus. He is the leader of a pod of hippopotamuses in the Pride Lands. He is the father of Beshte.
During the wet season, the newly appointed leader of the crocodiles, Makuu, forcibly took over Big Springs, driving Basi and his pod out of the area. However, with the help of the Lion Guard, the pod returned, and Basi offered to invite Makuu back once the fish population was in better condition.
Later, Basi and Beshte made hippo lanes through the Flood Plains. However, while trying to help a young rhino, Basi was injured, and so Beshte was forced to undertake the task alone. Inexperienced and alone, Beshte made the hippo lanes incorrectly, which prompted Basi to re-involve himself in the process. During the task, Makuu and his float attacked the hippopotamuses, but Basi and Beshte made winding hippo lanes through the Flood Plains that confused the crocodiles and led them right into the path of a sable antelope herd. With Makuu defeated, Basi and Beshte successfully completed the hippo lanes.
When Scar's spirit terrorized the Pride Lands, Basi defended Big Springs from an attack by his army. Later, Scar's spirit appeared in flames at Mizimu Grove and openly threatened the Pride Landers. Though Basi and his pod considered leaving the Pride Lands, they ultimately chose to stay and fight.
==Biography==
===Early life===
Basi lived in the Pride Lands. He was the leader of a pod of hippopotamuses who were based in Big Springs. During the wet seasons, he would monitor the fish population and coordinate with Pua, the leader of the crocodiles, as to when the crocodiles could feed. Basi took a mate, with whom he had a son: Beshte.
===Skirmish with Makuu===
Beshte brought his friends to Big Springs, where he explained how the fish picked his hide and teeth clean. Basi added that the crocodiles ate the fish when the population spiked, thus fulfilling the Circle of Life.
In the midst of their talk, Pua approached and asked Basi how the fish were faring. Basi suggested that the float come back next week, and Pua amicably agreed. However, before he could leave, he was challenged by Makuu, who accused him of being afraid of Basi. The two arranged a mashindano, which Basi explained as being a physical contest that determined the leader of the crocodiles.
When the mashindano took place, Basi watched alongside Beshte. At the start of the event, Basi chanted with the other animals. In the midst of the brawl, he commented that Pua was too tired and weak to take on Makuu. Not long after this comment, Makuu won, and Basi explained that as the defeated leader, Pua was banished from the crocodile float.
With Makuu as the new crocodile leader, he drove Basi and his pod out of Big Springs. However, after Kion's intervention, the Circle of Life was brought back into balance, and the pod returned to their home. As Makuu vacated the area, Basi called out after him, inviting him to come back once the fish were in plenty. He reminded him that all he had to do was ask, and Makuu promised to keep the proposition in mind.
===Kupatana===
Along with Mbuni and Twiga, Basi practiced a song for the Kupatana celebration. Simba listened from a nearby hillside and complimented Basi's performance to Beshte, who told the king that Basi had been practicing relentlessly. At the official celebration, Basi contributed his voice to the opening choral piece, and he watched in awe as the baobab blossoms began to bloom. After the jackal attack, he glared at Dogo's brothers.
===Making hippo lanes===
After a big rainstorm, Basi and Beshte forged across the Flood Plains, creating paths called "hippo lanes." Basi explained to his son how it was a tradition for hippopotamuses to clear the way after a storm, since it was easy for animals to get lost trying to cross the Flood Plains. He commented that a hippo lane should be "straight and true," and told Beshte that it would one day be his job to make hippo lanes through the Flood Plains.
Just then, Basi and Beshte heard a young rhino crying for help. They arrived in time to rescue him from Makuu and his float, whom they chastised for not honoring the rule that no animal was to be attacked while trying to cross the Flood Plains after a rainstorm. Makuu relented, but insulted hippopotamuses for always following the rules.
With Makuu gone, Basi and Beshte worked to free the young rhino from the reeds. In the midst of the rescue, the young rhino was spooked by a flock of egrets, and he accidentally speared Basi with his horn. The two managed to free him from the reeds, and the young rhino promised to not cross the Flood Plains again until the hippo lanes were complete.
Shortly after the rescue, the rest of the Lion Guard arrived, and Kion explained that they had heard an animal shouting for help. Beshte reassured him that he and his father had saved the young rhino, and Basi commented that it was time for him to return to the job. However, as he started to walk away, he found himself too injured to move. He tried to continue making hippo lanes, but Kion insisted that he should not be putting weight on his injured leg, and Beshte added that it was just not possible for Basi to be making hippo lanes in his condition.
Bunga commented that the Flood Plains would dry up soon, but no sooner had he spoken when thunder rumbled in the distance. With the impending storm, Basi tasked Beshte with creating more hippo lanes, since Basi himself was too injured to walk. Though Beshte was hesitant to step up to the task, Kion reminded him that he was the strongest in the Pride Lands and that the Lion Guard believed in him. Beshte accepted the responsibility and headed out to clear paths through the Flood Plains, while the Lion Guard led Basi to solid ground.
After the Lion Guard delivered Basi to safety, Ono arrived with news that a herd of sable antelope were refusing to leave their grazing grounds, even though another storm was on the way. Basi suggested that they lead the antelope to the other side of the Flood Plains, but Ono wondered how they would be able to cross the reeds. Basi reminded him that by the time the antelope arrived at the Flood Plains, Beshte would be done creating hippo lanes. The Lion Guard thanked him for the idea and then left to save the herd.
Much later, Beshte messed up the hippo lanes by making them windy and twisty as opposed to straight and true. He went to his father about the problem and admitted his mistake. Basi comforted his son and confessed that he had been wrong to send Beshte into the Flood Plains alone. He then attempted to stand, and Beshte rushed to his aid. Together, the two entered the Flood Plains, with Basi asserting that they could make a straight and true hippo lane together.
Basi and Beshte worked together to create a new hippo lane. As the two worked their way across the Flood Plains, Basi struggled to keep up and told Beshte to go on ahead of him. Beshte proudly exclaimed that he would create a straight and true hippo lane and that he would make his father proud. Basi asserted that he had always been proud of his son. Unbeknownst to the two, Makuu and his float watched from the reeds, plotting a way to get rid of Basi.
After Beshte left, Makuu and his float cornered Basi in the midst of the hippo lane. Just in time, Beshte came back to defend his father, but Makuu gloated that he and his float had numbers on their side this time. Basi encouraged his son to stand strong against the float, but Beshte reminded Basi that he was injured. He then told his father to follow him through a new hippo lane.
With Beshte in the lead, the hippos began to weave a winding trail through the Flood Plains, leading Makuu and his float on a wild chase. The two managed to cross over another hippo lane, but as the crocodiles moved to follow them, they got trampled by Bupu's herd. The crocodiles pulled back, winded, and Beshte chastised them for endangering the animals of the Pride Lands. In utter defeat, Makuu and his float swam off into the Flood Plains.
Later, Basi and Beshte overlooked Bupu's herd grazing on the other side of the water. Kion arrived and complimented the hippos, with Bunga adding that everyone loved the new hippo lanes. Ono then told Beshte that he was good at making hippo lanes after all, and Basi asserted that he had never had any doubt.
===Christmas===
One night, Basi attended Bunga's Christmas rehearsal. Things went well until the next morning, when everyone was leaning toward abandoning the project. Before the animals could depart, Bunga desperately explained that the performance was important to both himself and Timon. This caused the Pride Landers to change their minds.
Later that day, Basi partook in the "The Twelve Ways of Christmas" performance. After the performance, Timon lamented that Dandy Claws would never come, only for Pumbaa to suddenly appear in costume. Pumbaa apologized for his lack of gifts, but Timon pointed out that their family and friends were the gifts. The Lion Guard decided to make Christmas an annual holiday in the Pride Lands, and the gathered Pride Landers yelled, "Merry Christmas!" in unison.
===Scar's attacks===
Ono informed the Lion Guard that the crocodiles, hyenas, and jackals were attacking Basi's pod at Big Springs. Alongside Shujaa, the team raced to the rescue and confronted the invaders. However, before the Lion Guard could step in, Shujaa heaved boulders and trees at the Outlanders, effectively driving them away from Big Springs.
Later, Ono informed Beshte and Shujaa that Big Springs was under attack and had been set ablaze. Beshte was forced to leave for Big Springs on his own. Beshte arrived and ordered Basi and the pod to stay in the water while he dealt with the fire. Together, the Lion Guard worked to put out the blaze and fight the invading Outlanders, but in the midst of the fight, Beshte injured his leg and was unable to move. Ono begged Shujaa for help, and the gorilla agreed to fight for the sake of Beshte. The Lion Guard and Shujaa managed to put out the remainder of the fire.
Sometime after the attack, Basi spoke to Beshte about the recent Outlander attacks. Suddenly, the hippopotamuses were spooked by the antics of Kiazi, a baby hippopotamus, whom they mistook for an Outlander. The Lion Guard promptly arrived at the scene, and Basi explained the false alarm and apologized for the inconvenience. Later, Basi joined the conversation about Makini's mpando mpaya and explained that his father had told him about Rafiki's mpando mpaya. Makini then invited Basi to her mpando mpaya, and he agreed, as he believed that it would lift the spirits of his fellow hippopotamuses.
At Mizimu Grove, Basi attended Makini's mpando mpaya. In the midst of the celebration, the Army of Scar attacked, and the Pride Landers rose up to defend themselves. Per Kion's instructions, Basi helped Beshte put out a fire that the vultures had started. The battle paused when the spirit of Scar appeared in the flames, and Basi wondered how it could be. Frightened by Scar's unexpected appearance, the remaining Pride Landers, including Basi and his pod, fled Mizimu Grove. Before too much damage could be done, Beshte informed his father that they were safe, and the hippopotamuses stopped their stampede.
When the Pride Landers had regrouped at Mizimu Grove, Basi asked Kion why Scar's return had been kept a secret. In answer, Simba approached and admitted that he had had knowledge of Scar's return for some time but had hidden it out of fear that the Pride Landers would want to leave the Pride Lands. Basi declared that his duty was to protect his pod, whether that be in the Pride Lands or elsewhere, and Simba told the herds to inform him of their intentions the following morning at Pride Rock.
The next morning, the Pride Landers gathered below Pride Rock. Just as Basi was about to announce his decision, Kion appeared and implored the gathered Pride Landers to follow him to Mizimu Grove. The herds followed Kion to Mizimu Grove, where they saw that Makini's baobab tree seed had survived the fire. Inspired by the seed's survival, Basi declared that the hippopotamuses would stay in the Pride Lands, and the other Pride Landers likewise agreed to stay. As the various animal herds looked on, Makini planted her baobab seed.
===Beshte's return to the Pride Lands===
Upon Beshte's return to the Pride Lands from his trip to the Tree of Life, Basi traveled to Pride Rock, where he reunited with his son. Later, Basi, his pod, Makuu's float, and Ma Tembo's herd welcomed Beshte back to Big Springs. The next day, Basi witnessed the onset of the Battle of the Lion Guards at Mizimu Grove. Afterward, Basi watched Anga's competition against Tazama. During the final competition, Kion willingly relinquished his role as the leader of the Lion Guard to Vitani. Basi then witnessed Askari appearing in the heavens and speaking to the Pride Landers, followed by Kion using the Roar of the Elders to lift Pride Rock.
===Kion's coronation===
Basi attended Kion's coronation at the Tree of Life.
==Physical appearance==
Basi is massive, portly, and well-built. He has sparse hairs on his muzzle as well as notches in his ears. Unlike his son, who is paler in color, Basi is brownish-gray, with a pale underbelly and dark rims around his eyes. Several dark spots dot his back, and his eyes are green. A stunt patch of black hair sticks up from his otherwise bald head.
==Personality and traits==
Much like his son, Basi has a sunny disposition. He is amicable and open, showing a willingness to negotiate according to the customs of the Pride Lands. Even in the face of adversity, such as Makuu's violent takeover of Big Springs, Basi maintained his temper and graciously offered the crocodile a chance to return once the fish had returned in plenty.
Basi is knowledgeable and wise. Despite being an animal with a very different way of life, he understands the customs of the crocodiles and how this affects his pod's everyday life. Unlike the inexperienced young Makuu, Basi grasps an understanding of the Circle of Life and how every animal must give and take in order to keep it in balance.
==Appearances==
==Trivia==
* Basi was voiced by Kevin Michael Richardson.
** Richardson also voiced Tumbaa and Tutun Pharaoh in The Lion King's Timon & Pumbaa.
* Basi's name means "okay" or "stop" or "That's it!" in Swahili.
* Beshte often quotes Basi's words of wisdom.
==References==
Category:Canon articles
Category:Characters
Category:Hippopotamuses
Category:Leaders
Category:The Lion Guard characters
Category:Males
Category:Pride Landers