Kiburi | |
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Physical information | |
Gender |
Male |
Species | |
Skin color |
Green |
Eye color |
Brown |
Distinguishing features |
Dark markings around eyes and chin |
Biographical information | |
Status |
Living |
Residence | |
Affiliations |
• Kiburi's float |
Titles |
Leader of Kiburi's float |
Relationship information | |
Allies |
Nduli, Tamka, Hodari (formerly), Janja (formerly), Mzingo (formerly), Reirei (formerly), Scar (formerly), Shupavu (formerly), Ushari (formerly) |
Enemies |
Beshte (formerly), Bunga (formerly), Fuli (formerly), Hodari (formerly), Jasiri (formerly), Kion (formerly), Makuu (formerly), Ono (formerly), Simba (formerly) |
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Kiburi is a male crocodile. He is the leader of a float of crocodiles in the Outlands.
Initially, Kiburi lived in the Pride Lands as a member of Makuu's float. However, when he and Makuu continually argued over the float's tactics, Kiburi challenged Makuu to a mashindano. Before the event, Ushari tricked Kiburi into attempting to assassinate Simba, which resulted in his exile from the Pride Lands. This led Kiburi to join an army of Outlanders who served the resurrected spirit of Scar.
Under Scar's leadership, Kiburi and his allies launched attacks on the Pride Lands. Eventually, the Pride Landers invaded the Outlands, and Kiburi took on Makuu. The Pride Landers emerged victorious, and Kiburi's float submitted to Jasiri's leadership over the Outlanders.
Biography
Early life
Kiburi lived in the Pride Lands. He was a member of Makuu's float.[1]
Attempted assassination of Simba
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Kiburi and his float were led into a hibernation cave by the Lion Guard.[1] However, the Lion Guard accidentally awoke Kiburi and his float. Makuu decided to speak with Simba about a solution. Kiburi was loath to accept Makuu's decision and voted that they make Ono pay for putting them in a poor position to begin with. Makuu dismissed Kiburi's suggestion and left with the Lion Guard to speak with Simba. However, the moment Makuu was gone, Kiburi inspired the other crocodiles to help him forcibly take over the other water holes in the Pride Lands.
The Lion Guard caught wind of Kiburi's plan and put an end to his scheme. Makuu publicly rebuked Kiburi, and Kiburi relented. He and the rest of the crocodiles then followed the Lion Guard to a small water hole that was to be theirs until the dry season ended. Kiburi was dissatisfied with the close quarters and little water, but Makuu reminded him that they must compromise with the other Pride Landers. Unwilling to accept Makuu's decision, Kiburi challenged him to a mashindano, and Makuu accepted.

Before the event, Ushari the cobra tricked Kiburi into thinking that he could rule the Pride Lands. Kiburi then instructed Tamka, Nduli, and another of his lackeys to kill Simba while he was fighting Makuu. The mashindano began, and Kiburi fought ruthlessly. However, he was ultimately defeated. At first, Kiburi gloated that his defeat meant nothing, for Simba had been killed, but then Simba emerged, unscathed, and Kiburi and his followers were banished from the Pride Lands.
Kiburi entered the Outlands with his followers and accused Ushari of having led him to his downfall. Ushari convinced Kiburi to come with him and led the crocodiles to the volcano, where they met and allied with the spirit of Scar.[2]
Army of Scar
Alliance with Hodari
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In the Outlands, Njano pitched the idea of Hodari, a gecko who was friends with the Lion Guard, becoming a member of Kiburi's float, but Kiburi was doubtful. However, he allowed Hodari to engage in the traditional initiation spar and ordered Tamka to let the gecko win. Tamka did as he was commanded, and Kiburi allowed Hodari to join his float. With the gecko now among his crocodiles, Kiburi resolved to enter the Pride Lands and seize control of a real watering hole.

At that moment, Ono spotted Kiburi's float marching through the Pride Lands, and the Lion Guard rushed to stop them. Once there, the Lion Guard was met by Kiburi, who claimed to simply be visiting. He then introduced the team to his float's newest member, Hodari. He attempted to use Hodari's friendship with the Lion Guard to his advantage, but Kion was adamant about Kiburi's banishment and commanded the float to return to the Outlands. Kiburi reluctantly gave in, and the float left the Pride Lands.
Back in the Outlands, Kiburi devised a new plan to attack Makuu and seize control of his float. He questioned Hodari on Makuu's battle tactics, and Hodari happily shared some of Makuu's moves, inadvertently revealing that Makuu was injured and unable to engage in combat. This inspired Kiburi to invade the Pride Lands and defeat Makuu once and for all.

Meanwhile, the Lion Guard tried to warn Makuu that Kiburi was lurking in the Pride Lands, but Makuu insisted that his float could care for itself. Kion submitted to Makuu's request and led his team away from the float, unaware that Kiburi was watching from the shadows. The moment the Lion Guard departed, he and his float attacked Makuu, using Hodari's lessons to evade their attacks and seize an effortless victory. Hodari tried to remind Kiburi that he could not be leader without calling for a mashindano, but Kiburi ignored the gecko and continued to mercilessly beat Makuu.
Ono spotted the attack, and Kion led his team into battle. Kiburi pinned down Makuu, and Tamka overcame Kion, preventing him from helping Makuu. Hodari sensed the danger and told Beshte to carry him closer to the fight, as he had an idea. Beshte did as he was told, and Hodari came close enough to leap onto Kiburi's snout, which distracted him. Hodari then yelled for Makuu to use the Wide Tailspin move, which Makuu did, knocking Kiburi into the mud and freeing Makuu from his prone position. With Kiburi's float incapacitated, Kion used the Roar of the Elders to banish them back to the Outlands.[3]
Defeat in the volcano
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Scar plotted with his army in the Outlands to defeat both Simba and the Lion Guard. He explained to his followers that he would be using Sumu the scorpion to take down Simba. At Pride Rock, the Pride Landers celebrated Kumbuka. However, in the midst of the festivities, Sumu stung Simba's tail, then retreated as Simba collapsed to the ground.

Back in the Outlands, Scar received word of Sumu's success and directed his army to intercept the Lion Guard on their way to the volcano. The plan worked, with Kiburi, Janja, Reirei, and their respective clans slowing down the Lion Guard's progress through the Outlands. At last, the Lion Guard reached the inner volcano, where Makini placed a pinch of the cure, ash, in her gourd.
As the team turned to leave, Scar called his army forward, and they cornered the Lion Guard at the edge of the lava. With no option left, Kion used the Roar of the Elders to carefully blow away Scar's army. The Lion Guard then made a quick escape.[4]
Occupation of Kilio Valley
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In Kilio Valley, the Lion Guard struggled to put out a widespread brush fire. The Lion Guard spread out, accepting help from several of Ma Tembo's fellow herd members, while Ma Tembo led the rest of the herd out of the valley. However, she was cornered among the flames by Janja, Reirei, Kiburi, and their respective followers. Ono overheard Janja's cackling and reported what he had heard to Kion, who suspected Scar of having caused the trouble. He then ordered his team to protect the elephants, which left Kilio Valley to the mercy of the fire.

Later, in Kilio Valley, the fire died down as the Army of Scar celebrated their victory. They began to bicker among themselves, arguing over who had performed the best, when Scar suddenly arose from a still-burning ember and ordered the army to remain in Kilio Valley. He then revealed that he planned to take over the Pride Lands piece by piece.
Janja attempted to appoint himself the leader of the army, but Kiburi, Mzingo, and Reirei protested vehemently. The villains then began competing over who should be in charge of the valley as the Lion Guard looked on.[5]
Hyena Resistance
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Kiburi led the rest of his float in repeated failed attacks against the Pride Lands. Later, after they found out that the Hyena Resistance had been behind their failures, the Army of Scar surrounded Jasiri and her clan, and attacked them. Eventually, the Lion Guard arrived and fought off the Army of Scar.[6]
Attack on Big Springs
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Kiburi and his float launched an attack on the Pride Lands but were defeated by Shujaa. Later, Kiburi and the rest of the Army of Scar attacked Basi's pod but were defeated by the Lion Guard and Shujaa.[7]
Attack on Makuu's watering hole
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The Army of Scar besieged Makuu's float, with Kiburi targeting Makuu due to their history. Ono witnessed the battle and reported his findings to Kion. Together, the Lion Guard and their Pride Lander allies stormed the watering hole and fought off the Army of Scar. After getting tired of fighting, Kion used the Roar of the Elders to blast the Army of Scar away.[8]
Attack on Mizimu Grove

At Mizimu Grove, Rafiki and Simba announced Makini's mpando mpaya. In the midst of the celebration, the Army of Scar, including Kiburi and his float, attacked, and the Pride Landers rose up to defend themselves. The battle paused when Scar appeared in the flames and threatened to overtake the entirety of the Pride Lands. Frightened by Scar's unexpected appearance, the remaining Pride Landers fled Mizimu Grove. Kion then used the Roar of the Elders to defeat the Outlanders.[9]
Battle for the Pride Lands
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Over the next few seasons, the Army of Scar waged war on the Pride Lands, only to get repeatedly chased off by the Lion Guard. Eventually, Simba declared total war on the Outlands, and Scar gathered Kiburi, Mzingo, Reirei, and Shupavu at the volcano. There, he plotted to destroy the royal family and Janja's clan, who were on the cusp of revolting against the other Outlanders. That night, Kiburi and his float journeyed to Pride Rock with sticks in their mouths, and Kiburi reminded his float that they needed to get rid of the Lion Guard and Janja's clan.

The next morning, Kiburi's float gathered with the rest of Scar's army to repel the Pride Landers' invasion of the Outlands. As the Pride Landers charged into battle, Kiburi noted Janja's betrayal. Reirei pointed out that everything was happening as Scar had predicted, and Kiburi replied that Scar's intelligence would win them the battle. Mzingo expressed uncertainty about their chances, but Kiburi insisted that they could beat the Pride Landers, then ordered his float to follow him.
During the battle, Kiburi fought and lost to Makuu. The Pride Landers ultimately defeated Scar's army, and Kion vanquished Scar himself. After the battle, Cheezi asked who would be in charge of the Outlands in Scar's absence, and Janja remarked that he could only think of one animal who could keep the peace between the Outlanders and the Pride Landers. Kiburi asked if Janja was referring to himself, but Janja revealed that he was talking about Jasiri. Despite her initial reluctance, Jasiri agreed to the appointment and announced that, as long as the Outlanders respected the Circle of Life, the Outlands would be peaceful. Kiburi asserted that it did not matter who was in charge of the Outlands, as his float could take care of itself.[10]
Physical appearance
Kiburi is a large and well-built crocodile. He has green scales, with dark claws, eye rims, and ridges on his back. His eyes are brown.[1]
Personality and traits
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Kiburi is arrogant and egotistical. He believes that violence is the solution to every problem and dislikes the notions of sharing and compromise. While in Makuu's float, Kiburi was ill-mannered and disrespectful of Makuu's authority, and even seized power in Makuu's absence.
Unlike Makuu, Kiburi is foolhardy and overconfident, to the point that he failed to think through his challenge of Makuu's leadership. Kiburi harbors a deep resentment of Simba, as he refused to respect Simba's kingship and was willing to assassinate him when the notion was suggested. Even so, he appreciates the intellect of others, like Ushari. He will also gladly align himself with a cause that will benefit him.[2] After Scar was defeated and Jasiri became the queen of the Outlands, Kiburi accepted the situation, claiming that he and his float could fend for themselves.[10]
Appearances
Television series |
Trivia
- Kiburi's name means "arrogance, conceit, self-importance, pride" in Swahili.[12]
- As shown in the episodes "The Little Guy" and "The Kilio Valley Fire", Kiburi does not like to sing. This is ironic, as his voice actor, Common, is a well-known singer and rapper.[3][5]
References
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