Imaginary friends, also known as "imaginary companions", are pretend characters often created kwa children. Imaginary Marafiki often function as tutelaries (or perform a tutelary function) when they are engaged kwa the child in play activity. Imaginary Marafiki may exist for the child into adolescence and sometimes adulthood. Imaginary Marafiki often have elaborate personalities and behaviors. Although they may seem very real to their creators, studies have shown that children understand that their imaginary Marafiki are not real.
