Lesbian love story first Kenyan film to be screened at Cannes – yet banned in Kenya

Rafiki, a film by Wanuri Kahui, has become the first Kenyan film to be accepted into the prestigious Cannes film festival.

The film follows Kena and Ziki, two young women who fall in love despite their family’s political rivalry. They find themselves torn between security and happiness. The film was entirely shot in Kenya, despite homosexuality being both illegal and taboo.

Kahui says the film is “about all that is good and difficult about being in love,” and that “making a film about two women in love set in Kenya, means challenging deep-rooted cynicism about same-sex relationships among actors, crew, friends, and family.”

On Friday, Kenyan film censors banned Rafiki from screening in the country, saying that it is “attempting to normalize homosexual practices.”

Film board CEO Ezekiel Mutua said: “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.”

Kahui reacted to the ban on her twitter: “We believe adult Kenyans are mature and discerning enough to watch local content but their right has been denied.”

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