Origins:
First picture uploaded 2007, The Lion King Fan Art Archive. Design change/ alteration 3 times.
Name meaning:
Swahili for "intelligence", "intellect", "cleverness", "ingenuity", "reason", "wit", "resourcefulness", "inventiveness", "sagacious", "sense".
Pride affiliation:
Pridelands: Northeast Pride (birth); rogue (exile)
Family/ relations:
Daughter to Kovu, Kiara
Sister to Khari, Njozi
Mate to Enzi, Kucha
Mother to Nyota
Notes
* Firstborn twin to Khari
* In their early days, Akili and Khari were friends. Akili was a tomboy who loved nothing better than to join her brother in boisterous activities such as mudslinging, scorpion-flicking, wrestling, and ruining the lioness's hunts.
* Loved nothing better than to torment her aunt Vitani.
* Later on Akili becomes jealous of her brother. Khari is destined to become king while she is to be palmed off to another kingdom to be betrothed to a lion she doesn't even know.
* This jealousy leads to her being sought out by the restless spirit of Zira. Zira tells her that her family is evil and shows her images that twist the truth - Zira blames Simba and Kovu for Zira and Nuka's death, and she claims that Simba DID kill Mufasa after all, and so on. Akili believes these lies and grows fearful of her family, becoming a recluse.
* Enzi's Betrothed. Akili truly loved Enzi. When he died, Akili sought comfort in her cousin, Kucha. Unbeknownst to her however, Kucha only wanted to use her for his own ends. Akili birthed a daughter by him - Nyota - but the child was premature and didn't survive. Kucha then ditched her and disappeared.
* The jealousy, depression, and stress results in Akili's soul becoming fractured. Zira tries to use her as a vessel to wreak havok on the Pridelands.
* When she attacks Kovu in a psychotic rage, Khari banishes her from the Pridelands. Akili leaves with no one but Zira for company.
* Akili returns years later, leading a mixed pack of hyenas and wild dogs back into the kingdom of her birth. Akili is defeated by Khari in the end, and Zira's spirit is ripped from her soul. Akili dies, but not before apologizing for her actions. Khari forgives her, and allows her to die peacefully.
Distinguishing features
Adult fur unkempt and scruffy. Long, thin face similar to Zira's. Eyering large and "dipped" like Nuka's. Scruffy cheek fur. Claws show on front paws only.