Brotherhood of Lions
Reinhard Radke — ARTE / ZDF Studios
Three episodes following the five Black Rock brothers from six weeks old through their first five years. Oloisiadu appears as Olosiadu, the stay-behind.
Disappeared, presumed dead
Oloisiadu
Also known as Olosiadu · The Forgotten Black Rock Boy
c. August 2017 – late 2021
Born in The Black Rocks, southern Masai Mara National Reserve, Kenya
Oloisiadu was a male lion of Kenya’s Masai Mara National Reserve and one of the five Black Rock Boys, the brothers born in 2017 to the Black Rock Pride in the south of the reserve. In the documentary series Brotherhood of Lions he is called Olosiadu, the stay-behind: the cautious one who often lagged behind or kept to himself. As young males he is said to have been closest to Olobor, the boss of the five.
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 was part of the takeover of the Rongai Pride, where he was filmed mating with the Rongai lionesses. He was still seen with all four brothers in July 2021.
Towards the end of 2021 Oloisiadu disappeared, at about four years old. No body was found and no cause has ever been established. Most fans believe he was killed by herders, as several of his brothers later were, but some who follow the Mara lions closely say his fate is less certain than theirs. Because he died so young and so early, he is often called the forgotten Black Rock Boy, though fans believe his line may live on through Olonkera, the leader of the Rongai Rockers.
~4Age when he disappeared
<1Year of reign
5Males in his coalition
2021Year he vanished
Profile
Identity
- Name
- OloisiaduThe name he is best known by
- Nicknames
- Olosiadu (“the stay-behind”), Oloisiado, the forgotten Black Rock Boy
- Origin of the name
- A Maa name given by local MaasaiTranslated as “the stay-behind” in Brotherhood of Lions
- Sex
- Male
- Distinguishing features
- Information not availableNo distinguishing features have been recorded
- 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, Oloimina and Lorkulup (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, briefly, as one of the five males who took the Rongai Pride
- Prides ruled
- Rongai Pride (2021)
- Pride size
- Information not available
- Reign
- Less than a year (2021)
- Ruled with
- Olobor, Oloshipa, Oloimina and Lorkulup
- Coalition
- The Black Rock Boys
- Home range
- The Black Rocks and the Rongai River area of the Masai Mara National Reserve, Kenya
- Territory size
- Information not available
Death
- Died
- Information not availableDisappeared towards the end of 2021; he was last reported with his brothers in July 2021
- Age at death
- About 4 yearsHis age when he disappeared
- Cause of death
- Information not availableNot known. Most fans believe he was killed by herders; no evidence has been published
- Place of death
- Information not availableNot known
- Burial
- Information not availableHis body was never found
Names & Meanings
OloisiaduName
The name used by guides and most fans. It is a Maa name, one of five given to the brothers by local Maasai to suit their characters.
OlosiaduName in the documentary
Brotherhood of Lions translates it as “the stay-behind”, for his cautious habit of lagging behind and isolating himself.
OloisiadoOther spelling
Used by some fans and video makers.
The forgotten oneNickname used by fans
Because he disappeared years before his brothers became world-famous.
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.
OlosiaduOloisiaduc. 2017 – 2021
Brother & closest companionOloborOloborr, “the sister-killer”, the boss of the five. Said to have been closest to Oloisiadu before turning to Oloshipa. Disappeared in January 2024.View record →BrotherOloshipaOrpadan, “the hunter”. Killed by rival males in September 2025.View record →BrotherOloiminaOlumina, “the lame one”. The last of the five still alive.View record →BrotherLorkulup“The tag-along”. Found dead beside an eland carcass in January 2025.View record →Litter-matesFour sistersThe other four cubs of the litter of nine were females.
Reported sonOlonkeraLeader of the Rongai Rockers. Many fans believe he is Oloisiadu’s son, raised by the other four brothers after Oloisiadu vanished; others name Oloimina or Olobor. Not confirmed.
Offspring of the coalitionThe Rongai RockersYoung males fathered by the Black Rock Boys. In a coalition, which male fathered which cub is usually unknown.
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. The cubs reportedly also appeared on live safari broadcasts.
- c. 2019
Left the Black Rocks with his four brothers as a nomad, often trailing behind the others.
- December 2020
Photographed as a young adult; one of the last widely shared portraits of him.
- 2021
Took part in the takeover of the Rongai Pride and was filmed mating with the Rongai lionesses.
- July 2021
Filmed with all four brothers, one of the last sightings of the five together.
- Late 2021
Disappeared without trace, at about four years old.
Legend & Truth
What happened to him?
No one knows. He simply stopped being seen. Most fans assume herders killed him, as Olobor is believed to have been killed later, but those who follow the Mara lions closely point out that there is less evidence in his case than in any of his brothers’.
Whose son is Olonkera?
Olonkera, the leader of the Rongai Rockers, is claimed as a son of Oloisiadu, of Oloimina and of Olobor by different fans. In a coalition several males mate with the same lionesses, so without DNA testing the father cannot be known.
Not so timid
Despite his name, fans who watched the young brothers recall that Oloisiadu was one of the few who could keep the fierce Olobor in check.
Little is recorded
Because he vanished before the brothers became famous online, far fewer photographs and stories of Oloisiadu exist than of his brothers. Several sections of this record are marked as not available for that reason.
Photographs
Photograph coming soon
Photograph coming soon
Photograph coming soon
Film
The film of Olosiadu’s life is coming soon
Animation
An animated story of Olosiadu’s life is coming soon
Documentaries & Features
Sources
- ZDF Studios — Brotherhood of Lions
- TheTVDB — Brotherhood of Lions (the brothers’ names)
- Lion Lovers on X — Oloisiadu went missing towards the end of 2021
- Lion Lovers on X — The forgotten one
- WildFact forum — Coalitions of Masai Mara (Black Rock males)
- Letura — The Rise and Fall of the Black Rock Boys
- Change.org — Help to save the lion king in the Maasai Mara
Where sources disagree, the most widely reported figure is shown, with other reports noted beneath it.