Name: Bakari

Meaning: One Who Will Succeed

Age: Varies

Gender: Male

Mother: Nabii

Father: Chimalsi

Siblings: Jabari and Zuberi

Mate: Amani

Cubs: Taji

Likes: Being with Amani, peace and stories

Dislikes: Fighting, violence and hate

Pelt: Mid and light brown

Eyes: Blue

Mane/tail: Cream and brown

Distinguishing Features: Two-toned fur, two-toned mane/tail and a hair tuft on his chin.

Personality: Loyal, brave, courageous and loving

Relation to the Lion King: Kovu and Kiara’s grandson

Bakari was born at the same time as the rest of his brothers. He liked to play with them, although his didn’t particularly like to play fight.

One day, Sakina brought up the topic as to who was going to be King.

“So, which one of you is going to be King?” She asked the male cubs.

“I am .” They all answered at the same time, then looked at each other questioningly.

“I thought I would be King because I was born first.” Answered Zuberi.

“I thought I would be King because I’m the strongest.” Answered Jabari.

Bakari didn’t answer at all. He just shook his head as his eyes filled with tears. He had no claim to the throne that he could think of. Amani saw that Bakari was upset so went over and nuzzled him, giving him no verbal support.

“Hang on Sakina! Who says it had to be one of them! If they die, the throne goes to the girls!” Shouted Halima.

Then everyone started talking at once, the girls arguing with the boys and the boys arguing with each other. Amani saw that they were distracted and she and Bakari crept away. They didn’t stop walking until they had reached the story cave, where they sat down together.

“Bakari, are you ever scared of the future?” Amani asked.

He nodded and stared around the cave.

“I’ve heard my mother and father talking about a prophecy. It sounds scary.”

Amani put her paw on his and squeezed.

“My father was scared once. He was really ill in this cave once and that’s why he painted pictures, to make himself feel better. He was scared because he thought he might die, but he was also looking forward to the future.”

She pointed to a faded picture of a family of lions.

“This is meant to be my family. My father drew it when he was a young adult, dreaming of the future he might have with my mother. He didn’t seem scared, so why am I?”

“We’re all scared, Amani. The only thing that will help to get us through is the support of others. I will be here for you, just as I know you will be here for me.”

The two cubs didn’t speak for the rest of the afternoon. They just sat there, staring at the drawings and wishing they both had the bravery of Kabili.

When they joined the other cubs, they noticed they were still fuming from their argument. Jabari had managed to give Zuberi a nasty scar on his muzzle and he was sitting alone, glaring at the others. Halima and Sakina were sat with Jabari in awe of his bravery. Amani ran over to Zuberi and started licking his wound. Bakari felt a pang of jealousy as he saw Zuberi staring into Amani’s eyes as she helped him.

“What happened?” Bakari asked.

“Jabari gave Zuberi a scar! He’s so brave!” Said Halima.

“And now, Zuberi had sworn revenge!” Said Sakina. “That’s so stupid! He can’t beat Jabari!”

Then Zuberi started growling and Jabari joined in. The brothers glared at each other, wishing they could have another fight. Jabari started to walk towards Zuberi again when suddenly, the cubs froze as they heard a roar.

Chimalsi had entered the scene and was furious with what he saw.

“Jabari, Zuberi, come with me.”

The two cubs dropped their heads in shame and walked slowly after their father. The rest of the cubs were soon taken away by their parents who were shocked something like that happened.

As a teen, Bakari and Amani had fallen in love and had become mates. They often spent time together in the story cave, which is the place they first fell for each other and it was away from the others.

Also, Amani and Bakari were deeply shocked at the death of Sakina and the fleeing of the culprits. They looked on each other for support and they received it, knowing they would never leave each other.

One day, Zuberi approached Bakari. “Bakari.” Zuberi called to his brother.

“Yes…” He replied, suspiciously.

“Amani wanted me to tell you that she’s waiting for you in the story cave.”

“Why couldn’t she tell me herself?”

“Because she needed to get ready.”

Bakari still wasn’t sure whether what his brother said was true, but he decided to go along with it. He walked quickly to the story cave and wasn’t surprised when Amani wasn’t there. He had already decided what to say to his brother when he met him in the entrance.

“Where’s Amani?” He asked.

Zuberi told him that he saw her going to the waterhole in tears. That made Bakari worried. Why was his mate crying and keeping secret from him?

“Okay.” He said. “We’ll go together.”

Zuberi was pleased. His plan was working so far. Bakari took the bait as he knew he would – his brother was so predictable!

Halfway there, Zuberi stopped Bakari. He told him that he had wanted him to come down here alone.

“Why?” Asked Bakari nervously.

“To eliminate the threat to my throne.” Said Zuberi as he launched into his attack.

Bakari was an awful fighter, not wanting to practise often as his heart was too pure for violence. Therefore, Zuberi easily won. When Bakari lay dying on the floor, Zuberi turned and ran back up to Pride Rock.

Bakari needed to fool Zuberi so he didn’t finish him off. He dragged himself away and to the waterhole where he cleared his wounds and gave himself strength. He managed to find a cave and rest in there whilst he recovered. Then he set off.

Bakari walked for many days until he found an abandoned grassland. It sounded exactly like the one Kabili described; the one where the Outlanders lived for a short while, but he was on the far side of the territory as he couldn’t see Pride Rock at all. It looked so inviting that Bakari had to go inside. It was a lot different from when the Outlanders had lived there because the ground was full of grass and there weren’t any bugs at all. He found a small river and a cave and lived there perfectly happily knowing Amani was safe, until he found out about what his brother had done.

One day, he met Busara, the Major-domo of Chimalsi. He told Bakari what had happened. He was incredibly weak as he had fought flash floods, diseases and stampedes. The other lionesses weren’t so lucky. He carried him to the river and helped him drink and eat. Then we returned to the cave with and they planned to go and defeat Zuberi when they were both stronger.

They set out not long ago for Pride Rock, but as they approached they saw Jabari fighting with Zuberi and they kept down low and didn’t move until they were resting. Busara took Bakari up through a back way of Pride Rock and he saw Amani.

“Amani?”

“Bakari…”

He ran towards her and caught her as she fainted.

When Amani awoke she found Bakari with her and the little cub Radhi. That meant, it wasn’t a dream. He was real!

“Bakari, how did you survive?”

Bakari sighed and looked into the eyes of his mate as he told his story.

Amani had tears in her eyes as her mate nuzzled her and licked her cheek.

“Where’s Busara now?”

Bakari moved out the way and Amani saw Busara with Radhi. He wasn’t looking impressed as Radhi had decided to mess around with his hair. She laughed, the first happy sound to be heard at Pride Rock for several years.

A couple of months later, Amani sat with Bakari on the tip of Pride Rock with Radhi and Busara just behind. A cub sat in between Amani and Bakari’s paws, their son, Taji.

Taji walked up to the tip of Pride Rock and roared, a tiny, childish roar, but that roar was filled with hope and happiness.

At once, the grey clouds began to clear and the Great Kings and Queens looked down on the new family. Amani felt a heaviness lift from her fur and roared. The prophecy had lifted, taking the curse from them. Bakari felt it too and joined Amani and Taji in their roar.

The new family looked up into the sky at the Great Kings and Queens, but also the non – royal members of their family. They could see Jabari and Zuberi with Halima and Sakina, Chimalsi, Nabii, Kabili, Wema, Dafina, Ajali and Siri, Nuka, Vitani, Kopa, Kiara and Kovu, Simba and Nala, Scar, Zira, Mufasa, Sarabi and Sarafina, Uru and Ahadi, Mohatu and Sauda, and thousands more they didn’t recognise from Kabili’s story cave. Together, they roared feeling the Circle of Life complete.

Credits: Base and head drawing - me