Star Wars fans were first introduced to the Twi’lek species in Return of the Jedi. Since then, the alien being has been a massive staple. Given that Hera Syndulla is about to pop up in Ahsoka with her son, Jacen, we thought we’d review some of the most famous Twi’leks in Star Wars canon.
1. Cham Syndulla
One of the most recognisable Twi’leks in Star Wars is Cham Syndulla. We mentioned Hera in our opening, who happens to be his daughter.
Cham was a resistance fighter during the Clone Wars who later became estranged from his daughter after the death of her mother, Eleni. He always had his people in mind during the conflict. However, he criticised Hera for leaving Ryloth and not taking up the same fight.
Father and daughter later reunited. Cham would later become the grandfather of Hera’s son, Jacen.
2. Bib Fortuna
Return of the Jedi introduced fans to Bib Fortuna, Jabba the Hutt’s majordomo. While he survived the sail barge, he attempted to take over Jabba’s domain after his death and was killed by Boba Fett, who took over as the Daimyo of Mos Espa, sharing the position with Fennec Shand.
Bib was incredibly loyal to Jabba, so much so that he was even present when Jabba rang the gong during the Boonta Eve podrace that saw Anakin Skywalker victorious.
3. Hera Syndulla
The first of our female Twi’leks on this list, Hera Syndulla, stands out because she is the first of her species to star in a Star Wars project. She was a lead character in Star Wars Rebels, and she had a role in the video game Star Wars Squadrons. Also, she was the first Rebels character to receive a direct mention onscreen in a live-action film (Rogue One), while another character (Chopper) made a background cameo.
In universe, Hera was literally born to fight. Her father was Cham Syndulla, a freedom fighter on their homeworld of Ryloth. Her mother assisted in her husband’s fight by hiding her daughter underground during the Clone Wars.
After her mother’s death, Hera became a pilot and was estranged from her father. She would later join forces with former Jedi Kanan Jarrus, formed a rebel cell and had a son with Jarrus she names Jacen.
4. Garsa Fwip
Garsa Fwip is the first female Twi’lek to have a significant role to play in live-action. The dancer girl in Jabba’s palace in RotJ was eaten by a Rancor that didn’t really add anything to the story. Anyway, Garsa was the owner of the cantina known as the Sanctuary.
She first appears when Boba and Fennec go around introducing themselves. Garsa welcomed them to her establishment, telling them they could use whatever services they needed.
Garsa is later killed when the Pykes blow up her cantina.
Honourable Mentions
- Eleni Syndulla – wife of Cham and mother of Hera
- Aayla Secura – Jedi Master
- Numa – resistance fighter
- Gobi -resistance fighter
- Orn Free Taa – Republic Senator
