This question has been repeated countless times and will be repeated many more. It is probably the equivalent of the Homeric Question* in Lion King form. This question ,which I am sure most of you have already guessed is: Who is Nala's father? Fans' theories come in all different forms and shapes. Some say there was an unknown lion that wandered in (one fan made up a lion called Sanga), or an unknown lion that left the pride, or the original theory--Scar. Some theories are spotty, others are well-thought out and carefully planned, others make no sense at all. Some characters are created simply of the maker's own invention. But I do not blame them much, because there are some empty spaces in the story that can only be filled in with imagination. We will never be certain if our version is correct or enormously off the mark; we can just fomr our own opinions and hold onto them tightly. Whatever you feel is entirely your own opinion and you have a right to that opinion. And because I, too, as a Lion King fan and a human being, have the right of my own opinion, I will use it now. And I want it to be clear that I do not and will not insult any other fans and/or their opinions. And I would appreciate it if the same treatment were used for me.

I agree with the theory of Scar's fathering Nala. As evidence, I present the coloration of Nala's eyes. They are green like Scar's rather than her mother's, Sarafina, which are blue. (It is taken as solid fact that she is Nala's mother, because she is presented with Nala in the same segment that Sarabi is presented as Simba's mother.) It also seems sensible because if Sarafina had had Nala with Mufasa, then she and Simba would be siblings, which, though realistic in the real nature of a pride of lions, would seen rather askew in a Disney movie aimed at children.

We fans may never know for sure, but we must learn to live with it. Fans before us have lived with not knowing; let us learn also.               

*The Homeric Question was the famous question of whether the poet Homer had really written both The Odyssey and The Iliad. This question was posed because he claimed to have written them, but the two epics are suspiciously different.

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Last comments

RabidBea rLove	December 17, 2012

Actually, although any male in a pride (there are usually up to 4 in big prides), I do not believe Scar could have fathered Nala. I have two main reasons for this. One, Scar was not technically in Mufasa's pride. Sure, they're brothers, but Scar is portrayed as more of rogue lion. If Scar did mate with Sarafina, then he'd either be included in the pride or Sarafina would leave and the two of them would form their own pride. It's more likely that Mufasa fathered Nala, but it's never stated in the movie because then parent's would react with "EW SIMBA AND NALA ARE RELATED! INCEST", even though it's natural with lions. Secondly, in the musical and a deleted scene from TKL(Be Prepared--Reprise), Scar expresses a desire to mate with Nala and make her his "queen" or whatever. More incest. For both these reasons, it's too unlikely. EDIT: Also, in response to another comment, the male lions in a pride do not have to be related. Grown male lions usually leave their birth pride, find another wandering male or two, and team up to take over a pride. They can be related, if there is more than one male lion leaving his birth pride (ie, twin brothers), but again, it doesn't have to be.

SarabiMi rage123	November 03, 2012

This is a brilliant article, whatever your gonna call it, but actually, I strongly wish Scar was the father of Nala. However, we all know that this would make Nala Simba's cousin, and, like you say would be natural in a pride of lions, it isn't natural in a Disney movie. Plus, in a disney book, it mentions Nala's father, Ni... ect. Anyone agree? Anyway, nice point ofview

Lionsoul kopa	September 14, 2012

No worries, I've never really thought of that, I love hearing over opinions on her father ^^

Blue Eyes	September 14, 2012

LionsoulKopa: Thanks! I thought there would be protests against that.

Vaporeon	September 14, 2012

Ni is the answer because Nala and Mheetu are brother and sister right, so I read a comic and Ni looks a lot like Mheetu.

Lionsoul kopa	September 14, 2012

Blue eyes> Well, you've got a point. Scar was evil and messed up, he killed his own brother, tried to kill his own nephew and I wouldn't be surprised if he fealt nothing was wrong with reproducing with his own daughter.

Blue Eyes	September 14, 2012

It might sound sick but I believe Scar was Nala's father, and he didn't care about his blood relation to her - he just wanted a strong queen by now.

Lionsoul kopa	April 12, 2012

I was in WHSmiths and went in the kids ssection and found a kids TLK movie book, it said in the book: "Simba ran to find his mother, when he got there, he found his friend Nala and her mother, Sarafina were visiting from another pride" so, this being an official Disney book, I believe Nala's father was the king of another pride, hence her getting to be queen.

Alisha	March 30, 2012

Her father is Ni he is mentioned in the book Nalas Dare. He looks like Nala and Mheetu. His fur color is exacly like Mheetus. He is in lion king hidden stories when Mheetu runs off to start a pride of his own. Mheetu finds him in a place far from the pride lands.

Rinjapin e	August 06, 2011

@NalaVitani: Do you know what book that was, or have a copy of it? I keep hearing about it, but no one can tell what book it was! *frets*

Kieran	July 03, 2011

Heh. Scar isn't the only green-eyed lion in the world (of that movie.) There had to be tons. She could've even gotten the eye colour from her grandparent. And aren't Sarafina's eyes green too? And of course Sarafina is her mother. Nala asks her permission to go with Simba and Disney wouldn't make it unnecessarely complicated.

Old account 19190	August 05, 2010

I think scar had mheetu with sarafina. but i made up another lion named kiva [k-ee-va] who mated with sarafina also and had nala.

Beachpup	June 21, 2010

I think that it was anoither lion out of the pride good article though!!!

NalaVita ni	June 13, 2010

I agree with you completely on your theory. I think they even said in one of the books "Simba went off to play with his cousin and future queen, Nala."

Takaobse rver	September 29, 2009

Since Simba and Nala were engaged to marry, it could be logical that Nala came from the royal family of another pride. (this has happened historically all over the world-Europe, Asia, Native North America) Her mother would of course have to come too, as a young cub such as that would need a parent. In which case, Nala's father might be the 'king' of another pride. I dislike the theory of a rogue lion, as rogue lions do not roam around different to different prides in Africa, mating with random lionesses, the male of the pride would kill them. If a male can't take over a whole pride (in nature), he eventually dies of starvation. (as males are not well adapted for hunting- hence Simba's need to eat insects as a food source).

Nadra	July 09, 2009

Actually, in real pride, every male can have cubs... There is no "king". The males want the new cubs to have their genes. Since all the males of the pride are related (usually brothers, just like Mufasa and Scar), many of their genes are same. So it doesn't really matter, who the father is. There's no reason why Scar couldn't be Nala's father. Yes, Simba and Nala could be cousins. But in most countries, marriage between cousins is legal. And so, Kiara and Kovu could be a couple too (if Scar isn't Kovu's father). The article is good and interesting. I respect your opinion, eventhough I don't think that Scar is Nala's father. I'm quite sure that Nala got her green eyes from Sarafina.

Canadian demons	July 05, 2009
	Let your darkest side show...

I understand where you're coming from, but in a real pride, one male fathers all cubs, but in that case, Simba and Nala would be half-siblings, so I agree with the loner idea.

Alexifur sona	May 12, 2009

I dont really think that Scar is Nala's father because then Kiara would be really messed up. I think it was just some rogue lion that came and probobly like 'pinned her down' while she was out hunting, and she came back and didn't really tell anybody that a rogue had !@#$%^&* with her. (No, I didn't mean the f-word.)

Kovufan4 545	February 24, 2009

i dunno who her father is but i have a theory. Scar is not nalas father because then she couldnt marry simba or kiara couldnt marry kovu. My theory is, is that Sarafina went wandering and found a male, i mean,it can sometimes happen. lioness in the wild go wandering for a mate. i dont know the lions name but the most common one i heared was a lion called Shisazen.

Old account 13619	February 11, 2009

Hhhmm I wandered about that but I think Scar is too mean for Sarafina since she is nicer than him. Plus there is usually one male lion in the pack so how can those two have mated?Good article and question though xd

Kira_her mione	January 31, 2009

I don't think Nala is Scar's- I just looked at the theory and didnt really like it much. Also, Sarafinas eyes are green. I'm not trying to prove you wrong, just pointing it out. I made my own character, Angaza. He lived in the pridelands and he and Sarafina married. But, unfortunatly, his parents had betrothed him to a princess from a neibouring pride so he had to leave a pregnant Sarafina in the pridelands. He did manage to visit her secretly from time to time and managed to father Mheetu. A little far fetched maybe but not impossible!

Silent_C ola	January 29, 2009
	Looking for one to take me in

Hmm, think that Scar couldv'e have been her father. In the theatrical version, though, like Brontespurge said, he wanted her to be his queen. Now, I'm fairly certain that the theatrical version was made after the movie, so no one "cared" about who Nala's father was. And I thought her eyes were blue?

Brontesp urge	January 17, 2009

In the theater production, Scar askes Nala to be his queen. That would be a little wierd if Scar was Nala's father!

Lionquee n_zira_4 evr	January 15, 2009

I used to believe in the scar theory...but then i thought, why would he try to make nala his queen-his mate, his own daughter???-----that would be weird.....

Seth2208	January 12, 2009

Nicely said, I would say it is Scar of those two, because Mufasa just couldn't be, but still I think it was just some lion out of the pride. But as said, its one of unanswered questions, that will just stay that way.