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| “ | So, what is this really cool place? | „ |
| ~ Sarabi to her son |
Sarabi is the mother of Simba, the wife later widow of Mufasa, the sister-in-law of Scar, the mother-in-law of Nala and the paternal grandmother of Kiara and Kion, the former Queen of the Pride Lands and a supporting character from the 1994 film The Lion King and it's 2019 remake.
In The Lion King: Six New Adventures books (which are non-canon to the film), Sarabi is the paternal grandmother of Simba and Nala's son Kopa and that Ahadi and Uru are her parents-in-law.
She was voiced by the late Madge Sinclair in the original film and was voiced by Alfre Woodard in the remake.
History
Backstory
Not much is known about Sarabi's early life apart from the fact that she and Mufasa were betrothed to each other at a young age. Prior to the events of The Lion King, she became the queen of Pride Rock, reigning alongside her husband, Mufasa, who became the king of Pride Rock.
The Lion King
Sarabi gives birth to the newborn cub Simba. Sarabi and Mufasa embrace as Rafiki presents their baby son Simba to the other animals of the Pride Lands.
Months later, Sarabi wakes up with Simba (now a young cub) wakes up Mufasa so he can be shown The Pride Lands. When they exit their cave, Sarabi gives Simba a playful nudge and watches him and Mufasa go up to the top of Pride Rock.
Later that day, Sarabi is seen sleeping on a rock across from her friend Sarafina who is cleaning her daughter Nala. When Simba arrives to ask Nala to come with him to a "cool place", Sarabi wakes up and gives a reluctant Simba a bath. Sarabi questions her son on where the cool place is, Simba tells her that it's around the waterhole (but it is really The Elephant Graveyard). Sarabi and Sarafina allow the two cubs to go but as long as Zazu goes with them. Sarabi is later seen the following night with Nala, Sarafina, Zazu and the rest of the pride mourning Mufasa and supposedly Simba's deaths before watching in horror as their new King Scar allows hyenas to roam The Pride Lands.
Sarabi is later seen years later, arguing with Scar over the hunting party not doing their job as the herds have moved on. Sarabi tells Scar that there is nothing left and that they must leave Pride Rock, to which Scar refuses. When Sarabi protests that Scar cannot do that, he replies that he is the king and can do whatever he wants. When Sarabi accuses her brother-in-law of not being half the king Mufasa was, Scar (who has made it against the law to mention Mufasa's name in his presence) strikes her and snarls that he's ten times the king Mufasa was. Just then Simba appears and comes to his mother's defence where both Sarabi and Scar believe him to be Mufasa but Simba reveals who he is. Sarabi along with Nala and the pride are at first shocked when Simba says he was responsible for Mufasa's death but then realizes it was Scar who really killed her husband and Simba was being framed and fights the hyenas when they attack Simba with help from Timon, Pumbaa and Rafiki.
After Scar's death, Sarabi watches proudly as Simba becomes king and gains a daughter-in-law in Nala and becomes the grandmother of her and Simba's child.
Musical
Sarabi's role is the same as in the movie, though she appears with more roles in another song ("The Lioness Hunt").
The Lion King ½
Sarabi makes a non-speaking cameo during "The Circle of Life" scene as Timon and Pumbaa walk past Pride Rock.
The Lion Guard
In the Season 2 episode "Cave Of Secrets", a painting of Sarabi is seen in The Lair of The Lion Guard.
The Lion King (2019)
Sarabi appears in the 2019 live-action remake, once again as Simba's mother and Mufasa's mate and later widow. Her role is similar to her role from the original film, but it has some differences.
Sarabi is first seen during the opening scene where she has her infant son Simba cradled in her arms. She then greets Mufasa and watches Rafiki smear a mark on Simba's forehead before presenting him to the other Pride Land animals. She is later mentioned by Scar during his confrontation with Mufasa where he says that he has the upmost respect for her.
Months later, when Zazu tells Mufasa about hyenas in the Pride Lands, Mufasa asks where Sarabi is, to which Zazu tells him that she is leading an attack on the hyenas. Later that day, Sarabi is seen with Sarafina and Nala when Simba arrives to come with him. Sarabi gives Simba a bath before allowing him and Nala to leave, but as long as Zazu goes with them.
The next day, Sarabi and the rest of the pride are told by Scar about Mufasa and Simba being killed in a wildebeest stampede in a gorge, with Scar saying that he wished he could have got to the gorge in time to save them. Afterwards, Scar becomes King and allows hyenas into the Pride Lands.
Years later, Sarabi is shown to still be Queen of the Pride Lands and is considered the true ruler by the other lionesses. Zazu arrives to tell Sarabi about Scar and his hyenas hunting the last of the herds living in the now famine-ridden Pride Lands, but is chased away by two hyenas named Kamari and Azizi, who threaten to eat him if he comes back, thus revealing that Zazu is no longer welcome to Pride Rock by Scar. Despite urging from Nala to move the pride elsewhere, Sarabi refuses, saying that the Pride Lands is their home. Just then, the hyenas' leader Shenzi tells Sarabi that Scar wishes to speak to her.
Sarabi approaches Scar, who reminds her that long ago she chose Mufasa over him to be her mate. He then tries to persuade her to be his queen and "move on" from Mufasa, but Sarabi refuses, resulting in a furious Scar to declare that the lions will eat after the hyenas, who don't leave much leftovers. One night, Sarabi sees Nala fleeing the Pride Lands to find help.
A few days later, Scar once again tries to convince Sarabi to become his queen. When Sarabi once again refuses and condemns Scar for his poor leadership, the two lions fight. They stop when they see another lion appear. At first, Scar believes that the lion is Mufasa, only for the lion to be revealed to be an older Simba. Sarabi is overjoyed to see her son alive and well, but is shocked when Scar has Simba claim to have caused Mufasa's death. As Scar forces Simba off Pride Rock, he reveals that the scene reminds him off Mufasa's death where he saw the same look of fear in Mufasa as Simba had there before revealing to Simba that he killed Mufasa. After Simba manages to climb back up Pride Rock and confront Scar for his actions, Scar tries to defend himself. However, Sarabi reveals that she overheard Scar talking about seeing the look of fear in Mufasa and questions him on how he could have known that if he told the pride that he did not make it to the gorge in time. Realising that he has been caught out, Scar orders the hyenas to kill the pride.
Sarabi partakes in the battle against the hyenas. After Simba defeats Scar, Sarabi watches her son climb up Pride Rock and roar in victory as he takes his rightful place as King.
Sarabi is not seen again after this, but it is possible that she is among the lionesses watching the presentation of Simba and Nala's cub at the end of the film.
Other media
Sarabi makes several book appearances. Sarabi is seen first in The Lion King: Six New Adventures book "How True, Zazu?". After Zazu leaves Sarabi and Mufasa alone, an angry water snake tries to kill them, but Zazu alerts the two about the threat.
In the book "Friends in Need", she is seen as a adolescent lioness trapped in the gorge, but is saved by the then Prince Mufasa after being alerted by Zazu. In this book it is revealed that like Simba and Nala, Sarabi and Mufasa were betrothed to each other.
In the book "Simba's Big Secret", when Nala disappears, Sarabi asks Simba if he has seen her. At first Simba denies as he had promised Nala that he would not tell anyone where she was going. Sarabi tells him that some secrets must be told for the safety of others, causing Simba to reveal that Nala is at a cave at the Red Cliffs. Sarabi goes with the pride to find Nala, which they succeed, after finding her trapped in the cave.
Sarabi makes a cameo appearance in an episode of Timon and Pumbaa's Wild About Safety episode "Safety Smart Goes Green", where she comes to claim back Simba (portrayed as a baby) after Timon uses him as an example of a CFL (which he thought meant cute fluffy lion cub, where in fact it is a light bulb).
Trivia
- In the original script to The Lion King, Sarabi had three sisters; Naanda (who later became Sarafina in the final film), Diku and Dwala and would have been Nala's aunt. However, Nala's relationship with Simba would have been considered as incest, due to Nala being Naanda's daughter and Simba's cousin. Because of this, Naanda became Sarafina and was Sarabi's friend rather than her sister, whilst Diku and Dwala were scrapped.
- Originally after Simba's encounter with Shenzi, Banzai and Ed, Sarabi was to sing him a lullaby called The Lion in the Moon to relax him.
- In the 1993 script of The Lion King, Sarabi was originally going to witness the presentation of Simba and Nala's cub at the end of the film.
- According to storyboards at the time where there was no opening song, Sarabi would have been seen with Mufasa and Simba shortly before the latter's presentation. After noticing an angered Scar leaving the presentation, Sarabi expressed her disapproval of Scar's attitude, believing that Scar could at least show a little respect, though Mufasa decides to proceed without his brother. Sarabi mistakes Rafiki as a threat to Simba and roars at him in protection of her son, before Mufasa assures her that Rafiki means no harm.
- In the comic "An Unusual Choir", it is shown that Simba has an aunt and uncle who have two newly born sons. As Scar is Mufasa's only sibling, this would mean that Sarabi is the sister of either Simba's aunt or uncle.
- Sarabi did not appear in the sequel of The Lion King, The Lion King II: Simba's Pride, and apparently not in the television series The Lion Guard, at least physically. It is known that she is the paternal grandmother of Simba and Nala's son and daughter, Kion and Kiara. As she is not present at all in the sequel or the television series, it is left unknown whether she is still alive or that she died. However, when answering an email from a fan, Flip Kobler, the co-screenwriter of The Lion King II: Simba's Pride revealed that the reason that Sarabi does not appear in the film is because there was no place for her in the story. Another reason for Sarabi's absence from the film and also The Lion Guard was the producers wish to honor the memory of her voice actress Marge Sinclair, who passed away in 1995.