“Rafiki” will make history as the first Kenyan feature to premiere at Cannes Film Festival, but the lesbian romance has been banned in Kenya, where homosexuality is illegal. Variety confirms that the Kenya Film Classification Board is censoring Wanuri Kahiu’s film due to its LGBTQ storyline, which Board CEO Ezekiel Mutua sees as “counter to the laws and the culture of Kenyan people.”
“It is our considered view that the moral of the story in this film is to legitimize lesbianism in Kenya contrary to the law and the Board’s content classification guidelines,” Mutua stated in the ruling.
Mutua’s remarks on the decision are quite the about-face to his previous comments about “Rafiki” — and the Kenyan government’s pride at having one of its films selected for Cannes. Mutua praised Kahiu as an “icon” and commended her film for depicting a social issue that Kenya was “trying to sweep … under the carpet” and delving into “uncharted territory.” He said, “I think we need to celebrate Wanuri.” The Board had even approved “Rafiki’s” script.
Kahiu responded to the Film Classification Board’s decision during an appearance on Kenya’s daytime show “Morning Express.” “Unfortunately, our film has been censored in Kenya, because it deals with matters that are uncomfortable for the Kenya Film Classification Board,” she said. “But I truly believe that an adult Kenyan audience is mature and discerning enough to be able to watch this film and have their own conversation.”
Set to debut in Cannes’ Un Certain Regard category this year, “Rafiki” — which translates to “Friend” — follows two young women from rival families. They become friends and eventually fall in love, much to the displeasure of their kin and community. The feature is based on Ugandan author Monica Arac de Nyeko’s Caine Prize-winning short story “Jambula Tree.”
As Variety notes, gay rights in Kenya have been drawing international attention lately. The nation has been banning content with LGBTQ characters or themes — such as Disney Channel’s “Andi Mack” — and activists have been pushing the High Court to reverse its stance on homosexuality. Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta told Christiane Amanpour that gay rights are “of no importance to the people of Kenya” during a recent interview. “This is not an issue of human rights, this is an issue of our own base as a culture,” he said.
Despite the decision and the Kenyan government’s overall attitude toward its LGBTQ community, Kahiu remains hopeful that Kenyan audiences will eventually see the film: “Maybe this work that is in exile will also come back, and we can properly have an open discourse about our people, our children, how we’re interacting with our community, and what our role is,” she said. Still she stressed, “I’m incredibly disappointed, because I believe in Kenya.”
Last year India’s Censor Board of Film Certification blocked the release of Alankrita Shrivastava’s “Lipstick Under My Burkha” after deciding its “lady oriented” story was not “clean and healthy entertainment.” India’s Film Certification Appellate Tribunal eventually overturned the board’s decision and the feminist film about four women’s awakenings and rebellions opened in India.
Check out “Rafiki’s” trailer below.
