 |
| Utamu (grub) | |
|---|---|
| |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Skin color |
Purple, pink, black |
| Eye color |
Pink |
| Distinctions |
• Long, multicolored bodies |
| Sociocultural characteristics | |
| Habitat |
Dead trees |
| Dominions | |
| Predators |
• Honey badgers |
Utamu are grubs that inhabit the Pride Lands. They emerge once a year at the peak of the Rainy Season, and can only be found in a certain dead tree. They are Timon and Pumbaa's favorite type of grub.
Information
The Lion Guard
"The Search for Utamu"
When the Lion Guard stumbles upon Mapema Rock, Bunga resolves to hunt for utamu grubs. Before he can start, the group is called away on another mission, but afterward, Kion agrees to help him find the grubs with Beshte and Ono. At first, the group appears to get lost in their search, but Bunga instructs his friends to follow a group of dung beetles.
Timon and Bunga collect Utamu
While following the dung beetles, Bunga tells his friends about the day he'd met his uncles, Timon and Pumbaa. Long ago, when he'd just been a young honey badger, he'd encountered Timon and Pumbaa singing "Utamu". Instantly smitten, Bunga had begun following them around until Timon had instructed him to climb a tree and fetch them some Utamu grubs. When Bunga had succeeded and given the grubs to Timon, the meerkat had allowed him to stay, and the three have lived together ever since.
After the story, Bunga attempts to climb a long-dead tree to fetch some utamu for his uncles, but the branch breaks due to the decay, and the utamu fall into the river below. Heartbroken, Bunga returns to his uncles and admits that he's failed to gather any utamu. Timon gently reminds the honey badger that they celebrate not because of the utamu, but because of their relationship with Bunga. They then reveal that utamu grubs had "fallen out of the sky", and the group shares in a feast of grubs.
"Return to the Pride Lands"
Bunga and his adoptive uncles - Timon and Pumbaa - feast on utamu at Hakuna Matata Falls. This indicates that a safer utamu scorce has been found.
a family reunion
Trivia
- "Utamu" means "deliciousness" or "sweetness" in Swahili.