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| Rafiki (2019 film) | |
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| Physical information | |
| Gender |
Male |
| Species | |
| Skin color |
Blue and red |
| Hair color |
Black, brown, and gray |
| Eye color |
Yellow |
| Biographical information | |
| Status |
Living |
| Residence |
• Pride Lands |
| Affiliations |
• Pride Landers |
| Relationship information | |
| Family |
Unnamed twin brother |
| Allies |
Junia, Kiara, Mufasa, Nala, Pumbaa, Sarabi, Simba, Timon, Zazu, Inaki (formerly), Mosi (formerly), Scar (formerly), Zala (formerly) |
| Enemies | |
| “ | ” |
Rafiki is a male mandrill.
As a young adult, Rafiki got cast out of his troop due to his mystical visions. He set out in search of the fabled paradise Milele, during which he met Mufasa, Taka, Sarabi, and Zazu. Together, they found Milele, and Rafiki realized that the vision he had been having of a "brother" had been of Mufasa all along.
While at Milele, Rafiki and his allies were attacked by a pride of lions called the Outsiders. However, Mufasa rallied the animals who lived at Milele to fight alongside them, and they defeated the invading pride. Afterwards, Rafiki encouraged Mufasa to accept his destiny as the king of Milele, and he acquiesced.
Seasons later, Mufasa and Sarabi had a son named Simba, whom Rafiki christened and presented 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 Mufasa had perished in a stampede. Rafiki watched Scar's coronation from afar and mourned the purported deaths of Mufasa and Simba.
Eventually, after Simba had grown into a young adult, Rafiki found a tuft of fur that belonged to him. Realizing that the young prince was, in fact, still alive, he 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 named Kiara, whom Rafiki presented to the Pride Landers. Later, when Kiara was a cub, he told her the story of her grandfather.
Biography[]
Early life[]
Rafiki initially lived with a troop of primates and became good friends with a baboon named Junia. He would frequently have mystical visions, which sometimes aided his fellow primates. Over time, however, they came to fear his powers and exiled him from their troop, despite Junia's protests.[1]
Meeting Mufasa, Taka, Sarabi, and Zazu[]
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On his own, Rafiki sought Milele, as he had had a vision of his "brother" awaiting him there. Along the way, he got attacked by Mufasa, Taka, Sarabi, and Zazu, only for them to halt the attack when he mentioned Milele. Mufasa proposed that they let him live if he led them to Milele, but he refused and retorted that he would let them live instead. Impatient, Taka tried to attack Rafiki, but Mufasa ordered him to let the mandrill live. Afterwards, the five formed a partnership, with Rafiki agreeing to lead them to Milele.
Rafiki meets Mufasa.
Along the way, Rafiki meditated in a pool. Though Mufasa questioned why he would not catch fish for them, Rafiki commented that it was not the fish's time. He also picked up on Mufasa's fear of water.
Continuing on, the group reached a ravine, and Mufasa determined that they should climb down rather than walk across. As the group entered the ravine, the Outsiders approached, and Sarabi used a beehive to incite an elephant stampede. Though the stampede hindered the Outsiders' pursuit, Sarabi got knocked unconscious, and Mufasa dragged her to safety. Meanwhile, Rafiki barely managed to hold on to a tree branch, which he decided to keep as a staff. Once the elephants had run off, Rafiki revived Sarabi and remarked that "he" had saved her. She questioned who specifically had saved her, but before Rafiki could answer, Mufasa claimed that Taka had saved her.
Rafiki tells Mufasa that he regards him as a brother.
The group's journey continued, and they ascended a snowy mountain. In order to throw the Outsiders off their scent, Mufasa instructed Zazu to cover their tracks. As they climbed higher, Mufasa carried Rafiki on his back. Eventually, the group kept going and reached Milele. There, Rafiki located the baobab tree from his vision and realized that Mufasa had been the "brother" he had been seeking all along.
At that moment, the Outsiders attacked, and Mufasa rallied the animals of Milele to fight alongside him. Together, the animals defeated the Outsiders, and Mufasa killed their leader, Kiros. After the battle, the animals hailed Mufasa as their king. Though he protested that he was nobody, Rafiki pointed out that it was his destiny to reign, and he at last relented. With the gathered animals as witnesses, he ascended Pride Rock and roared over his kingdom.[1]
Simba's presentation[]
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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.[2]
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.[2]
Simba's return to the Pride Lands[]
| “ | Rafiki: Come. Your father is waiting. Do you see him? Simba: I don't see anything. Rafiki: Look closer. You see? He lives in you.
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Rafiki shows Simba his reflection.
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.[2]
Battle for Pride Rock[]
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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.[2]
Simba's coronation[]
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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.[2]
Babysitting Kiara[]
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Rafiki tells Kiara the story of her grandfather, Mufasa.
Seasons later, when Kiara was a cub, Simba left her in the care of Timon and Pumbaa while he helped Nala give birth. Before long, a storm struck, and Kiara hid in fear.
Just then, Rafiki approached, and Kiara greeted him delightedly. Upon learning of her fears, he told her that Simba had been scared of the thunder as a cub but had eventually had the courage to roar from the top of the cave. Kiara doubted she could be that brave, and so, Rafiki told her the story of her grandfather, Mufasa.[1]
Physical appearance[]
As a young adult, Rafiki had thick brown fur, with a short ruff, brown eyes, and a long, narrow face that was marked by patches of blue and red skin. He also had a short tail.[1] Upon growing older, his pelt thinned, and his mane grew to be long, wiry, and gray, covering his head and extending down to his chin, where it formed a short goatee.[2]
Personality and traits[]
| “ | Simba: Yeah, I think you're confused. Rafiki: I am confused? You don't even know who you are.
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Rafiki fought fiercely during the battle for Pride Rock.
In his younger years, Rafiki was more high-spirited and eccentric. He would often speak in riddles and say cryptic things, sometimes in regards to his mystical visions. He possessed the power to see into others' hearts, such as when he picked up on Sarabi's memories of her late father, and frequently had visions of the future. He was unwaveringly faithful and wise, and clung to his visions despite them rarely coming true.[1]
Now an elder, 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.[2]
Appearances[]
Trivia[]
- Rafiki was voiced by the following:
- In The Lion King, he was voiced by John Kani.[3]
- In Mufasa: The Lion King, he was voiced by Kagiso Lediga as a young adult and John Kani as an adult.[3][4]
- Rafiki's name means "friend" in Swahili.[5]
- Rafiki frequently mutters to himself in Xhosa.[2]
References[]
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