Warning: This article contains SPOILERS for Mufasa: The Lion King!
Mufasa: The Lion King centers on the titular lion and his brother Taka trying to reach the legendary land, Milele; however, it takes more than them to get there for the place to become the Pride Lands. In 2019, Disney created a live-action adaptation of the 1994 animated film The Lion King, bringing mixed reviews. Instead of simply adapting the sequel for the big screen, the production company created an original story that shifts the focus away from Simba and highlights his father's childhood.
Mufasa's path from lost child to king is not simple, as he had no real claim to the throne. However, your character is in Mufasa: The Lion King shows that he possessed all the qualities needed to lead long before he became the reigning monarch of the Pride Lands. All he needed was a community to follow him and a place to call home. In the prequel, she takes the form of Milele.
What does Milele mean and where is it?
Milele is a representative of stability and security
At the beginning of the film, Mufasa asks his mother, Afia, what is in the area where the light touches the Earth, and she says it is Milele, singing the song of the same name in the Mufasa: The Lion King soundtrack. Mufasa's mother and father, Afia and Masego, are taking him to Milele at the beginning of the film, before they part ways. The word “Milele” means “forever” in Swahili, representing a place where they will have perpetual security and abundance. Afia describes Milele as located at the furthest point, beyond the deepest gorge, where the light touches the earth.
While traveling to Milele, Mufasa and Taka – later joined by Sarabi, Zazu and Rafiki – pass a waterfall, descend a gorge and cross a mountain range. Eventually, they find Milele, the place that becomes the Pride Lands. This area has beautiful prairies, waterfalls, a river, trees and many animals. However, Milele does not have Pride Rock until the end of Mufasa: The Lion Kingwhen an earthquake occurs during the climactic battle. Before that, the place only has a rocky hill that rises above the rest of the area.
Milele is a myth in The Lion King
Lions know about Milele, but don't believe she exists
Based on the way Mufasa: The Lion King characters talk about Milele, the place seems like a myth that all lions know, but no one alive has been there. The myth challenges pack boundaries, with different groups having knowledge of the legendary location. Mufasa, Afia, and Rafiki are the only people who believe the place exists if they travel far enough. Even Taka and Nala, who travel with him, seem skeptical of Milele's existence, going along with Mufasa because she is important to him.
It is unclear whether lions lived on Milele or whether it is simply a myth that turned out to be true. Considering the location description matches the look of the Pride Lands, it appears that their ancestors lived in Milele and migrated there for some reason.
In this case, the place would become a myth once enough generations passed without returning home, continuing to pass down the oral history. If the Lion King franchise has already added another original film, it would be interesting to see a prequel explaining how and why the lions left Milele. However, a live-action prequel that doesn't involve well-known characters would be a risk Disney probably wouldn't want to take.
How Mufasa Transforms Milele In The Pride Lands
Mufasa's leadership helps create the pride lands in Mufasa: The Lion King
Milele and the Pride Lands may occupy the same space, but they are not the same thing. Milele is the land upon which the kingdom of the Pride Lands was built, and the former only becomes the latter because of Mufasa's leadership and inspiration. When Mufasa and his group arrive at Milele, the animals don't want them to stay. There is a division between species, each looking out for their own interests.
It's simply a formality when the animals decide to crown the titular character as their king, making The Pride Lands a kingdom.
However, everyone fears that the lions will hunt Mufasa and Taka, knowing that they could wreak havoc on Milele. Happily, Mufasa motivates the animals to work together against the enemy lionsexplaining the strengths of different species. He assures them that he is not better than them just because he is a lion.
The moment when all the animals unite to fight Kiros and his group Mufasa: The Lion King this is when Milele becomes The Pride Lands. They are all a community, defending their brothers against violent enemies. Damage to one is damage to all, and they will not go down without a fight. It's simply a formality when the animals decide to crown the titular character as their king, making The Pride Lands a kingdom.