This motivational poster is dedicated to all of my Muviro and Tarzan-loving friends, fellow artists, fans, and brethren who revel in their boundlessly eternal rivalry. So, sit back, relax, and soak in Muviro’s and Tarzan’s powerfully virile brand of epic jungle rivalry.
Admiring that one short fight scene between Muviro and Tarzan from the episode “Tarzan and the Eagle’s Feather” made me extremely open to the possibility of a huge rivalry between them based on trying to outmuscle each other in every single way. When it comes to muscles, might, and power, both of them have it. However, there is one difference, as Muviro may be warlike with his rock-hard body, but Tarzan could effortlessly pummel him with his complete athleticism.
I will reiterate that a lot of what I will say is based on my AU headcanon involving Tarzan being raised by the Waziri tribe under Chief Keewazi’s wing as well as having Mufasa be his lion father and Simba be his lion brother. Therefore, the appreciation, unconditional love, and boundless joy he feels with his human father Keewazi, lion father Mufasa, lion brother Simba, leopardman brother Kaj, human older brothers George of the Jungle and Basuli, and his younger human brother Maugli would all be enough to stir a lot of jealousy and suspicion in Muviro and his father. Moreover, Tarzan being friends with gorillas such as Moyo and Gobu and even leopards would make Muviro think that Tarzan was being bewitched by witch doctors when in fact, he felt a oneness with the jungle and the Waziri tribe.
Ever since Muviro and Tarzan were children, they would constantly be in the bane of each others’ existence, given that he was slightly taller than Tarzan and was using his imposing presence, scowls, and prodigious strength to scare off and bully Tarzan. Tarzan, on the other hand, would not be scared of Muviro but be confused as to why he would dare hurt him, as he himself is surrounded by those who care and love him such as his fathers Keewazi and Mufasa, his brothers Simba, Kaj, George, Basuli, and Maugli, and his best friends for life Kuwanga, Nomonga, Muwanga, Chowambi, Wasimbu, and Waranji. Even as Tarzan tried to be friends with Muviro, he ended up being coldly and cruelly shunned.
This is where Muviro’s and Tarzan’s rivalry towards each other commenced, as they would one-up each other in weightlifting, marathon running, swimming, and even wrestling. In every one of these activities, Tarzan always won, which led Muviro to unleash a nasty insult towards him saying that witch doctors have enchanted him with a spell and he should not be trusted especially alongside his “kind” consisting of George and Maugli.
Despite that vicious taunt by Muviro, young Tarzan received the comfort and compassion of Keewazi, Mufasa, Simba, Kaj, George, Basuli, and Maugli after trying to cover himself with mud to try to look different.
The years rolled by along with Tarzan becoming a lot stronger through Kobe’s, Usula’s, and Keewazi’s wisdom, Simba’s and Kaj’s fierceness of using his claws and fangs to hunt, and all of the wrestling matches and posedowns he had with his most favorite brothers in the forms of George, Basuli, and Maugli.
It was not just Tarzan who became a whole lot stronger, but also Muviro thanks to his father and uncles being Waziri warlords themselves, as he spent every waking day training his muscles and mind to crush Tarzan.
The animosity certainly continues to run deep within Muviro’s and Tarzan’s veins every time they engage in wrestling, weightlifting, and bodybuilding matches complete with their bulging biceps, steel abs, and granite muscles writhing against each other and threatening each other that one of them will be sent to the underworld or even have all of their bones crushed to bits.
As adults, Muviro and Tarzan would consider each other to be the strongest opponent they ever fought and would hold a begrudging respect towards each other, even though they spit poisonous venom at each other. This would even get to the point where both Muviro and Tarzan would strip themselves off of their garments and wrestle each other completely naked with their muscular, pillar-like bodies touching each other in a series of camel clutches, full Nelsons, Boston crabs, and bear hugs. They would even size each other up by flexing their biceps and pecs at each other to see who has the bigger, more well-shaped muscles and who is the stronger warrior. Ergo, they would have every conceivable chance of doing everything they can to crush each other to bits with their bare hands.
This even got to the point when Muviro brutally punched and battered Tarzan with his fists almost wanting him to die. Just as he thought he was dead, Muviro let out a mighty yell, although he did not realize that Tarzan was still conscious. As Tarzan woke up, he proceeded to wail it on Muviro by punching, scratching, and biting him incessantly until he bled. It all wrapped up when Tarzan’s eyes flashed at a shaken Muviro and snarled at him to get out or he will eat him alive, thus making Muviro scamper away exiling himself from the Waziri tribe but swearing vengeance on Tarzan.
Even though Muviro ended up as an outcast, there are a couple of moments of respect where they at least acknowledge each others’ strengths as warriors with a whole lot of muscle. However, when it comes to them having a friendship, it would be volatile at best. Nevertheless, even though they want to kill each other with their bare hands and all of their strength, they can still endeavor to see how much strength they have against each other, while throwing each other acid-dripping smirk and clasping each others’ hands, as if though they were arm-wrestling.
When all is said and done, Muviro’s and Tarzan’s rivalry would be the stuff of legends. Their rivalry could give the ones between Vegeta and Goku, Xena and Callisto, and Batman and Superman a run for their money thanks to the physical power both Muviro and Tarzan bear as formidable warriors who display no signs of stopping whatsoever.
They even function as reflections of each other. While Muviro values power, pride, fierceness, and strength in one’s self, Tarzan wholly believes that strength comes from not only something that is physical but also from the support he has from his family and his friends, thus complimenting each other, in spite of the venom.
Even when Muviro is married to Uti and Tarzan is married to Kocoum, their rivalry is still as strong, but their children have learned to have a competitive relationship with each other.
As a fan of Muviro, Tarzan, and their rivalry, what makes me just as invested in them is the absolutely amazing vocal talents of Kevin Michael Richardson’s imposing delivery as Muviro and Michael T. Weiss’s smooth-sounding voice being put to great use as Tarzan, even though Tony Goldwyn was a bit better as the titular wild man. Richardson’s booming bass voice could perfectly compliment Weiss’s velvety baritone voice in a way that can make them the most imposing, formidable, and strongest rivals the whole world has ever seen.
In conclusion, Muviro’s and Tarzan’s rivalry has always been based on testing each others’ strength and a lot of venom-spitting in terms of how deep their competitiveness towards each other really is. Ergo, they are the Waziri tribe’s most formidable rivals all of Africa has ever witnessed. Even when Muviro ended up being exiled, their rivalry and occasionally acerbic friendship remains strong as ever.
I hope you all enjoyed this and I will see you in the next submission. Take care and stay safe, everybody.
Muviro and Tarzan from The Legend of Tarzan belong to Edgar Rice Burroughs and Disney.
