Who Is Rafiki in The Lion King?

Radhika Dadhich

Jan 10, 2024

Rafiki is a sage in the movie The Lion King by Disney. He meditates in the Pride’s Land and offers wisdom and knowledge to all, especially Simba.

The Lion King is one of the most beloved Disney movies of all time. The film was released in 1994 and since then has garnered a cult following. Among the many widely loved and adored characters in the movie, Rafiki stands out. Rafiki is a mandril - a type of monkey - who serves as a shaman and Royal Mjuzi of the Pride Lands.

Most importantly, Rafiki meditating has become a popular pop-culture symbol that embodies eccentricity and being true to one’s self. Rafiki is a sage with deep connections to the magical world. He uses his wisdom to guide others, most notably Simba. This post is an ode to Rafiki, and we will check out some interesting and lesser-known facts related to this beloved character while examining some of the common merch available online.

More About Rafiki - Top 3 Lesser Known Facts

The Meaning of Rafiki
Most characters in The Lion King, including Rafiki, have their names extracted from Swahili. In Swahili, ‘Rafiki’ is interpreted as ‘friend.’ The meaning is incredibly relevant and apt, as Rafiki is one of the closest aides and confidantes of the titular king of the Pride Lands.

Multiple Revisions in Rafiki’s Character
The first Lion King movie underwent multiple rewrites. The initial scripts envisioned Rafiki as a cheetah and a baboon. Initially, Rafiki’s character was preceded by Kwashi the baboon who helps the lion prince Simba run away from the hyenas after his father’s murder.

After Simba grows up, Kwashi mentors him to take back the throne. Of course, in the final script and the movie that we have all seen and loved, Kwashi the baboon’s character is replaced by Rafiki - the mandrill. And, we can safely assume that the makers have no regrets about the decision.

The Meaning of Rafiki’s Song
Besides Rafiki meditating, his opening track is also incredibly iconic. In one of the interactions with adult Simba, Rafiki hangs by a branch and merrily sings the line ‘Asante sana, squash bana, we we nugu, mi mi apana.’ The meaning of this line is, ‘Thank you very much, squash banana, you are a baboon and I am not.’ The song is believed to have philosophical undertones, as Rafiki often speaks in metaphors.

Rafiki Merch on the Internet - A Mega Fandom

The number of Rafiki merch available on the internet vis-a-vis T-shirts, hoodies, stationery, wall art, etc, reveals the phenomenal popularity and adulation that Rafiki has gathered throughout the years.

So, there we have it, a crisp overview of Rafiki - the meditating monkey of the movie The Lion King.

Rafiki is a popular character in The Lion King. His image of meditating and offering wisdom to Simba has become a pop culture phenomenon in recent times.