Rafiki is an old, wise mandrill (not baboon, mandrill!) who
first appeared in Disney's 1994 film. The
Lion King. Since then, he has also appeared in the sequel,
The Lion King II: Simba's Pride,
where he sang a song called "Upendi." (Some people don't like it, but I
think it's a carchy song myself.) He also made a few appearances in the
Timon and Pumbaa show where he sometimes appeared with his nephew, Nefu.
Rafiki is always there to help keep The Circle of Life going in his own, sometimes mysterious ways. When Simba was afraid to return to the Pride Lands, Rafiki was there to show Simba that his father still lived...and to knock some sense into him with his staff! He even did his part to help save Pride Rock from Scar by fighting hyenas with his fantastic martial arts skills! (Who knows where he picked those up?) When it seemed that there would never be peace between the Pridelanders and the Outsiders, Rafiki showed Kovu and Kiara the magic of love, which brought the two feuding prides together at last. Though at times, Rafiki seems crazy, he always knows what he's doing!
Random
facts about Rafiki:
-Rafiki means "friend" in Swahili
-Rafiki is the only one who says his name in both The Lion King and Simba's Pride. And it's the same
line! "You follow old Rafiki. He knows de way!"