Living

Oloimina

Also known as Olumina · The Last of the Black Rock Boys

c. August 2017 – present

Born in The Black Rocks, southern Masai Mara National Reserve, Kenya

Oloimina is a male lion of Kenya’s Masai Mara National Reserve and the last surviving member of the Black Rock Boys, the five brothers born in 2017 to the Black Rock Pride in the south of the reserve. He was the smallest of the five and has walked with a limp since an old hip injury, which is why the documentary series Brotherhood of Lions calls him Olumina, the lame one. The same film describes him as the most sexually active of the brothers. Guides and photographers today know him for the opposite of his brothers’ fierce reputation: a tolerant, gentle male who shares his kills with the lionesses and cubs of his pride.

He grew up at the Black Rocks as one of nine cubs raised by three lionesses, left with his brothers as a nomad at about two, and in 2021 helped take the Rongai Pride. In October 2021, aged about four and despite his limp, he fought the famous nomadic male Jesse in Black Rock territory and held his own, coming away with a scar on his eyelid. As he matured his mane darkened and grew until fans called it the finest of the five.

One by one his brothers were lost: Oloisiadu in 2021, Olobor in January 2024, Lorkulup in January 2025, and Oloshipa, his last partner, in September 2025. Since then Oloimina has defended the Rongai and Fig Tree prides on his own, a rare feat for a single male, while his sons and nephews, the Rongai Rockers, grow up around him. He was still being seen and photographed in his territory in 2026.

~5Years of reign so far

~9Age in 2026

4Brothers he outlived

2Prides he holds alone

Profile

Identity

Name: OloiminaThe name he is best known by
Nicknames: Olumina or Olomina (“the lame one”), King Oloimina, the Last Black Rock Boy
Origin of the name: A Maa name given by local MaasaiTranslated as “the lame one” in Brotherhood of Lions, for his limp
Sex: Male
Distinguishing features: A limp from an old hip injury; a scarred eyelid from 2021; a large, dark maneThe smallest of the five as a young male, he later grew what fans called the finest mane of the brothers
Weight: Information not availableFor reference, adult male lions usually weigh 150–260 kg

Birth & Family

Born: c. August 2017The litter was about six weeks old in September 2017, according to Brotherhood of Lions
Birthplace: The Black Rocks, southern Masai Mara National Reserve, Kenya
Birth pride: Black Rock PrideOne of nine cubs, five males and four females, raised together by three lionesses
Father: One of the old Black Rock males: Orkini, Longo or BennaWhich of them sired him is not known
Mother: Information not availableOne of the three Black Rock lionesses who raised the litter; she has not been publicly identified
Siblings: Olobor, Oloshipa, Lorkulup and Oloisiadu (brothers); four sisters in the same litterWith three mothers in one litter, some of the five were half-brothers or cousins

Reign

Pride king: Yes, the sole pride male of the Rongai and Fig Tree prides since September 2025
Prides ruled: Rongai Pride (from 2021) and Fig Tree Pride
Pride size: Information not available
Reign: About 5 years so far (2021 – present)
Ruled with: Olobor, Oloshipa and Lorkulup; from late 2025 alone
Coalition: The Black Rock Boys
Home range: The Rongai River area of the Masai Mara National Reserve, Kenya
Territory size: Information not available

Death

Died: Information not availableStill living; he was being seen in his territory in October 2026
Age at death: Information not availableHe turned about nine in 2026
Cause of death: Information not available
Place of death: Information not available
Burial: Information not available

Names & Meanings

OloiminaName

The name used by guides, fans and the media. It is a Maa name, one of five given to the brothers by local Maasai to suit their characters.

OluminaName in the documentary

Brotherhood of Lions translates it as “the lame one”, for the limp he has had since he was young. Also spelled Olomina.

King Oloimina, the Last Black Rock BoyTitles used by fans

Used since he became the only surviving member of the coalition.

Family & Lineage

Fathers’ coalitionOld Black Rock malesOrkini, Longo and Benna, the males of the Black Rock Pride when he was born. Which of them sired him is not known.

LionessMotherOne of the three Black Rock lionesses who raised nine cubs together. She has not been publicly identified.

OluminaOloiminac. 2017 – present

Brother & last partnerOloshipaOrpadan, “the hunter”. Held the Rongai and Fig Tree prides with Oloimina until he was killed by rival males in September 2025.View record →Brother & close companionLorkulup“The tag-along”. Often seen with Oloimina. Found dead beside an eland carcass in January 2025.View record →BrotherOloborOloborr, “the sister-killer”, the boss of the five, who always kept Oloimina in his place. Disappeared in January 2024, reportedly speared by herders.View record →BrotherOloisiadu“The stay-behind”. Disappeared in late 2021; believed killed by people.View record →

Litter-matesFour sistersThe other four cubs of the litter of nine were females.

Offspring of the coalitionThe Rongai RockersYoung males fathered by the Black Rock Boys, including Olonkera and Kidong’oe. In a coalition, which male fathered which cub is usually unknown.

Reported sonOlonkeraLeader of the Rongai Rockers. Some fans believe he is Oloimina’s son; others say Oloisiadu’s or Olobor’s. Not confirmed.

Reported offspringCubs of 2025Fans report that the young cubs in the Rongai and Fig Tree prides in late 2025 were sons of Oloimina and Oloshipa.

Life Story

c. August 2017
Born at the Black Rocks in the south of the Masai Mara, one of nine cubs, five males and four females, of three Black Rock Pride lionesses.
September 2017
At about six weeks old, filmed with the litter by Reinhard Radke’s crew for what became Brotherhood of Lions.
c. 2019
Left the Black Rocks with his four brothers as a nomad. An old hip injury already gave him a limp, earning him the name the lame one.
2021
The brothers crossed the Rongai River and took the Rongai Pride.
15 October 2021
Fought the big nomadic male Jesse in Black Rock territory. Neither was killed; Oloimina came away with a torn eyelid but kept his eye.
Late 2021
Oloisiadu disappeared, leaving four brothers.
2022
His limp improved and his mane began to darken.
January 2024
Olobor disappeared, reportedly speared by herders.
May 2024
Stayed near Lorkulup while the Mara vets treated his brother for a suspected snake bite.
January 2025
Lorkulup was found dead beside an eland. Oloimina and Oloshipa were left to hold the Rongai and Fig Tree prides.
2025
When Oloshipa chased the aging Salas males from Topi Pride territory, Oloimina tried to follow but could not run on his limp.
Late September 2025
Oloshipa was killed by rival males, leaving Oloimina the last of the five and the sole male of two prides.
29 March 2026
Photographed with a hippo kill he had all to himself.
June 2026
Described by visiting photographers as defending the whole Rongai territory alone and sharing his kills with his pride.
October 2026
Still filmed roaring in his territory.

Legend & Truth

Strength in a lame lion

Lameness usually shortens a male lion’s life. Oloimina has outlived four stronger brothers, fought Jesse at four years old, and has held two prides alone since 2025.

The order within the coalition

Fans who followed the brothers noticed a clear ranking: Olobor always dominated Oloimina, while Oloimina dominated Oloshipa, and Lorkulup dominated Oloimina. Lion coalitions are rarely this neat, which is part of why the five were so closely watched.