South African native Buyi Zama has played the role of Rafiki in The Lion King for the past 15 years—Broadway, the West End of London, Australia, the U.S. National Tour and now in Las Vegas, where she, her husband and new baby reside.

In her role, Zama sings the opening number, “Circle of Life,” one of the more memorable songs in musicals. “I am supposed to be very wise,” laughed Zama during a phone interview. “And Rafiki (which means ‘friend’ in Swahili) is very friendly and is an almost shaman-like character who everybody in the community goes to for advice and for help. It is one of those roles that you can’t ‘mark’ it; I wouldn’t know how,” she adds, explaining that even after years, she must give it her full-on attention every time.

Zama believes the musical “forces people to feel. Each and every person finds one character to identify with, and it talks to your emotional center not just your intellectual one. The show moves from being dark to one of having faith and positivity.”

The Smith Center for the Performing Arts, 7:30 p.m. Nov. 13-17 & 20-23, 2 & 7:30 p.m. Nov. 24, 1 & 6:30 p.m. Nov. 11, 18 & 25, starting at $29 plus tax and fee. 702.749.2000