Mzingo

Mzingo is a male vulture. He is the leader of a parliament of vultures in the Outlands.
Mzingo was initially an enemy of the Lion Guard, with whom he and his parliament had frequent clashes. The vultures eventually joined the army of the resurrected spirit of Scar, whose goal was to take over the Pride Lands. However, the Pride Landers defeated Scar and his allies in an invasion of the Outlands, and Jasiri became the territory's new queen.
==Biography==
===Early life===
Mzingo lived in the Outlands. At some point in his life, he became the leader of a parliament of vultures.
===First skirmish with the Lion Guard===
Mzingo overheard that Kion and Bunga were setting up a new Lion Guard and reported the news to Janja. At first, Janja thought that Mzingo was looking for food. However, he became concerned upon hearing the full story and plotted with his clan to take down as many animals as they could before the new Lion Guard was formed.
Later that day, Kion's older sister, Kiara, and her friend, Tiifu, tracked a gazelle herd. The two became suspicious when they saw Mzingo looming overhead. Kion and the Lion Guard arrived and saw Mzingo telling Janja's clan which gazelle to attack next. Mzingo was defeated by Ono, a member of the Guard, who knocked him into a bush.
===Kiara's queenship===
When Simba had to attend a funeral, he put Kiara in charge of the Pride Lands. On his way to the funeral, he expressed his worries to his mate, Nala. Unbeknownst to the two, they were being spied on by Mzingo, who resolved to monitor the doings of the Pride Landers. Not long after this, he observed Kion bad-mouthing his sister and decided to inform Janja of the situation.
Mzingo traveled to the volcano, where he reported to Janja that Kion and Kiara were fighting in the wake of Simba's departure. Janja decided to take advantage of the family struggles and instructed Mzingo to take a special message to Kiara. Shortly afterward, as Kiara was looking out over her kingdom, Mzingo landed on the peak of Pride Rock and offered a peace proposal to the young queen. Though suspicious, Kiara listened as Mzingo told her that Janja wished to meet her at Broken Rock, which served as neutral ground between the Outlands and the Pride Lands. Kiara promised to think the offer over, and Mzingo flew away.
===Ono's damaged eyesight===
During a meeting with his parliament, Mzingo allowed a late Mwoga to join. Mwoga quickly explained that Ono had lost his vision, and Mzingo called for the parliament to deliberate over how they should proceed.
===Attack on Fuli===
When Fuli overexerted herself on a mission, she became so exhausted that she collapsed beneath a tree. Just above her, Mzingo's parliament sang "All Hail the Vultures". Afterward, they spotted Fuli resting beneath their tree and resolved to make her into their next meal. The parliament attacked Fuli, who was too fatigued to fight back. Just in time, the Lion Guard arrived and fought the vultures off, and Kion used the Roar of the Elders to blow the parliament away. Once the vultures were gone, Fuli thanked her friends for saving her and promised to wait for them on the next mission.
===Attack on the baby baboon===
While the Lion Guard was on patrol, they spotted Mzingo and his parliament circling in the distance. When they drew nearer, they saw that the vultures were hunting a baby baboon. The team jumped into action, rescuing the baboon and scaring off the parliament.
After the rescue, Fuli was tasked with delivering the baby baboon to his troop. Along the way, she spotted Mzingo and his parliament, and hid in a field of tall grass with the baby baboon. Mzingo and his vultures caught a glimpse of the baby baboon and heard his shriek, which prompted them to search the field of grass for their quarry. Thinking quickly, Fuli instructed the baby baboon to cling to her underbelly while she pretended that she was out hunting. Mzingo questioned her as to what she was hunting. She commented that Mzingo was looking rather plump, which made him take off in a hurry.
Mzingo returned after Fuli delivered the baby baboon to Mapango Cliffs. Along with his cronies, he attacked the baby baboon's troop and ordered his minions to get the baby baboon while he dispatched of Fuli. Mzingo and Fuli engaged in a struggle on the cliffs. In the midst of the fight, the baby baboon struck Mzingo with a fruit, giving Fuli the opportunity to jump down the cliffs and pin Mzingo to the ground. She ordered him to call off his parliament, after which he and his vultures flew away in a panic.
===Army of Scar===
====Defeat in the volcano====
Mzingo and the rest of the Army of Scar cornered the Lion Guard in the volcano. Kion used the Roar of the Elders to clear a path to escape. Scar sent Mzingo and his parliament after the Lion Guard. However, the rest of the team arrived just in time to fend off the vultures, and Kion used his Roar to ensure that they were not delayed again.
====Occupation of Kilio Valley====
In Kilio Valley, the Lion Guard tried to put out a widespread brush fire, but Mzingo and his vultures dropped embers from the sky, which made the task impossible. The Lion Guard spread out, while Ma Tembo led her herd out of the valley. However, she was cornered among the flames by Janja, Kiburi, Reirei, and their respective followers.
Ono overheard Janja's cackling and reported what he had heard to Kion, who suspected Scar of having caused the trouble. He then ordered his team to protect the elephants, which left Kilio Valley to the mercy of the fire.
Later, in Kilio Valley, the fire died down, and the Army of Scar celebrated their victory. They began to bicker among themselves over who had performed the best. Scar suddenly arose from a still-burning ember and ordered the army to remain in Kilio Valley. He then revealed that he planned to take over the Pride Lands piece by piece.
Janja attempted to appoint himself the leader of the army, but Mzingo, Kiburi, and Reirei protested vehemently. The villains then began competing over who should be in charge of the valley. They continued to argue as the Lion Guard looked on.
====Defending the border====
Upon spotting Ono in the Outlands, Mzingo and Mwoga chased him out. Mzingo then warned him to keep out of their territory.
====Fire attacks====
Kion and his friends, Bunga, Kiara, Tiifu, and Zuri, traveled to the mudpots and played in the mud. Unbeknownst to the cubs, Scar ordered Mzingo to set fire to the grasslands near them.
Later, when fire sticks began raining down from the sky, Anga and Ono investigated the problem. As they flew higher and higher, Ono was forced to retreat, while Anga soared ahead. Once above the clouds, she spotted Mzingo and his parliament dropping fiery sticks onto the Pride Lands below.
Anga reported back to the Lion Guard, and Kion suggested they rally the kingdom's birds to help stop the vultures. Ono suggested they ask Hadithi for help. Hadithi agreed and led his followers to where the Lion Guard had gathered to plan their next move.
Once the birds and the Lion Guard had rallied, Hadithi inspired his followers to help stop the vultures. Together, they took off to thwart another attack, this time over the Maumivu Thorn Patch. During the fight, Anga got wounded, and Hadithi and Ono rushed to save her. However, Hadithi got attacked by vultures and ended up falling into the thorn patch below.
With no Hadithi to rally the birds, Ono took up the mantle of leader and managed to lead the birds in another assault. They rounded up the vultures, and Kion used his Roar to banish them back to the Outlands.
====Battle for the Pride Lands====
After several seasons of the Pride Landers battling Scar's army, Simba declared total war on the Outlands, and Scar gathered Mzingo, Kiburi, Reirei, and Shupavu at the volcano. There, he plotted to destroy the royal family and Janja's clan, who were on the cusp of revolting against the Army of Scar. That night, Mzingo's parliament journeyed to Pride Rock and set the structure ablaze but got chased away by Anga.
The next morning, Mzingo watched as the Pride Landers invaded the Outlands and reported it to the rest of Scar's army. After gathering to repel the Pride Lander invasion, Scar's army noted Janja's betrayal, but Kiburi asserted that Scar's intelligence would win them the battle. Mzingo expressed uncertainty about their chances, but Kiburi insisted that they could beat the Pride Landers. In the ensuing fight, Mzingo gathered his followers, and they attacked the Pride Lander birds, only to be defeated by Anga and Hadithi.
Eventually, the Pride Landers defeated Scar's army, and Kion vanquished Scar's spirit. After the battle, the Outlanders asked who would lead them, and Janja remarked that he could only think of one animal who could keep the peace between the Outlanders and the Pride Landers: Jasiri. Despite her initial reluctance, Jasiri agreed to the appointment and announced that, as long as the Outlanders respected the Circle of Life, the Outlands would be peaceful. Mzingo suggested a run-off election instead, but Cheezi and Chungu intimidated him into accepting Jasiri as his new leader. He then returned home alongside his parliament.
===Jasiri's reign===
Upon entering the Outlands, Jasiri was greeted by Mzingo and his parliament, who addressed her as "Prime Minister." They offered their services to her, and she accepted due to her plan to assist the Lion Guard in fighting the Outsiders. Together, Jasiri, the Lion Guard, and the vultures reached the border of the Pride Lands, where they were attacked by Vitani and her Lion Guard. Mzingo and his allies managed to defeat Vitani's scout, Tazama.
The fight broke up when Kiara arrived and explained that the Outsiders had joined the Pride Landers. While the Lion Guard departed for Pride Rock, Mzingo and his allies followed Jasiri back into the Outlands.
==Physical appearance==
Mzingo is a large vulture. His feathers are dark blue, while his wings are tipped with lighter blue. He has a ring of white feathers around his neck, a red-tipped beak, and black eyes. His head and neck are pink, and he has a blue crest that rises from the back of his head in a swept-back spike.
==Personality and traits==
Mzingo is opportunistic and sneaky. He shares a desire with the hyenas to eat at his leisure, no matter the effect on the Circle of Life, and cares nothing for the animals of the Pride Lands. He has a dry and sarcastic demeanor and tends to look down on his enemies.
Despite his deviousness, Mzingo is quite dignified. He considers himself to be more sophisticated than his allies since his vultures work under the rules of a typical parliament, with almost every decision being presented as a motion to be voted on. However, he is also willing to dismiss parliamentary procedures if there is a good opportunity at hand.
After Scar's defeat, Mzingo and his parliament began to show more respect for Jasiri, whom they dubbed "Prime Minister." Mzingo bears the Lion Guard no ill will despite their previous enmity, as he was willing to help them fight off Vitani's Lion Guard. He worked well with Ono during the fight and even complimented the egret's keen insight.
==Appearances==
==Trivia==
* Mzingo was voiced by Johnny Rees.
* Mzingo's name means "circuit, orbit, circle, circumference" or "bad odor" in Swahili.
==References==
Category:Antagonists
Category:Army of Scar members
Category:Canon articles
Category:Characters
Category:Leaders
Category:The Lion Guard characters
Category:The Lion Guard: Return of the Roar characters
Category:Males
Category:Outlanders
Category:Vultures