Good question! I'm not sure if I have a preference, actually. The character works great as either. I'm more used to Rafiki being male but only because I've been familiar with the film much longer than I have with the musical - I don't think one is the superior choice and both kind of bring their own charms to the character.

I don't have a real preference for one over the other, but seeing as there are so few female characters in The Lion King anyway, I think it is always good to have some more female representation - especially when there are characters who are male and their gender has little impact on the story. There's no reason why a character like Rafiki can't be female.

"Look beyond what you see." Male... Because.

I think Female

He's a male because in the movie it was a man voice who did Rafiki.

obviously, he should be male!!!!!

In summer 2018, all versions of this musical, except The Lion King Kids, will have two Rafikis, which are male and female, at the same time together. They'll be a husband and wife couple. They'll be the narrators of the new version of the musical. They'll be singing The Circle of Life, Shadowland, He Lives In You, The Stampede, Rafikis Mourn and Finale. They'll be named Male Rafiki and Female Rafiki.

male like in the movie