Rafiki (film)
{{Short description|2018 Kenyan film}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2020}}
{{Infobox film
| name = Rafiki
| image = Rafiki poster.jpg
| caption = Theatrical release poster
| director = Wanuri Kahiu
| producer = Steven Markovitz
| writer = {{Plainlist|
- Wanuri Kahiu
- Jenna Cato Bass
}}
| starring = {{Plainlist|
}}
| music =
| cinematography = Christopher Wessels
| editing = Isabelle Dedieu
| distributor =
| released = {{film date|2018|5|9|Cannes|2018|9|23|Kenya|df=yes}}
| runtime = 82 minutes
| country = Kenya
| language = {{plainlist|
- English
- Swahili
}}
}}
{{langnf|sw|Rafiki|friend}} is a 2018 Kenyan drama film directed by Wanuri Kahiu.{{cite web |url=https://www.festival-cannes.com/en/festival/films/rafiki |title=Rafiki |work=Cannes |access-date=6 May 2018 |archive-date=4 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231104215352/https://www.festival-cannes.com/en/festival/films/rafiki |url-status=live }} Rafiki is the story of romance that grows between two young women, Kena and Ziki, amidst family and political pressures around LGBT rights in Kenya. The film had its international premiere in the Un Certain Regard section at the 2018 Cannes Film Festival;{{cite web|url=http://www.festival-cannes.com/en/infos-communiques/communique/articles/the-2018-official-selection|title=The 2018 Official Selection|work=Cannes|date=12 April 2018|access-date=12 April 2018|archive-date=24 September 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230924132237/https://www.festival-cannes.com/en/infos-communiques/communique/articles/the-2018-official-selection|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2018/film/news/cannes-lineup-includes-new-films-from-spike-lee-jean-luc-godard-1202751300/|title=Cannes Lineup Includes New Films From Spike Lee, Jean-Luc Godard|work=Variety|date=12 April 2018|access-date=12 April 2018|archive-date=26 May 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230526052859/https://variety.com/2018/film/news/cannes-lineup-includes-new-films-from-spike-lee-jean-luc-godard-1202751300/|url-status=live}} it was the first Kenyan film to be screened at the festival.{{Cite web|url=https://www.festival-cannes.com/en/festival/actualites/articles/rafiki-as-seen-by-wanuri-kahiu|title=Rafiki as seen by Wanuri Kahiu|last=Khaldi|first=Tarik|date=9 May 2018|website=Festival de Cannes 2019|language=en|access-date=23 March 2019|archive-date=12 February 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240212180916/https://www.festival-cannes.com/en/festival/actualites/articles/rafiki-as-seen-by-wanuri-kahiu|url-status=live}}
Plot
Kena helps her father John Mwaura run a small convenience store in Nairobi as he campaigns for a local election. Kena lives with her mother, who isn't really on speaking terms with John. Kena starts flirting with Ziki, a neighbourhood girl with colourful hair, who also happens to be the daughter of Peter Okemi, John's political rival.
Kena and Ziki have a number of romantic dates, and quickly become very close, but there are tensions about displaying their affection in public because homosexuality is illegal in Kenya.{{Cite news |last=Mumford |first=Gwilym |date=2018-05-09 |title=Rafiki review – groundbreaking lesbian romance aims to change Kenyan hearts and minds |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2018/may/09/rafiki-review-sweet-lesbian-romance-aims-to-change-kenyan-hearts-and-minds-cannes |access-date=2024-11-21 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}{{Cite web |date=2019-05-10 |title='Rafiki' Is An Afro Bubble Gum Film About 2 Women Falling In Love Where It's Illegal |url=https://www.wbur.org/news/2019/05/10/rafiki-wanuri-kahiu-afrobubblegum-review |access-date=2024-11-21 |website=www.wbur.org |language=en}}
Ziki's friends get jealous that she is spending so much time with Kena, and when they attack Kena, Ziki defends her. Ziki takes Kena home to dress her wounds, but Ziki's mom catches them kissing. They run away together to hide, but are found by the town gossip, who brings an angry mob to attack the two girls. They are both arrested, and have to be picked up by their fathers. Ziki can no longer bear to see Kena, and her parents send her to live in London. John refuses to let Kena take the blame for what happened, even though it means forfeiting his chance at winning the election.
A few years later, Kena has fulfilled her dream to become a doctor and gets word that Ziki has returned to town. The film ends just as they are reunited: after all these years their love has not died.
Cast
{{cast listing|
- Samantha Mugatsia as Kena Mwaura
- Sheila Munyiva as Ziki Okemi
- Neville Misati as Blacksta
- Nini Wacera as Mercy
- Jimmy Gathu as John Mwaura
- Charlie Karumi as Waireri
- Muthoni Gathecha as Mama Atim
- Dennis Musyoka as Peter Okemi
- Patricia Amira as Rose Okemi
- Nice Githinji as Nduta
- Patricia Kihoro as Josephine
- Mellen Aura as Elizabeth
- Vitalis Waweru as Tom
- Leila Weema as Elizabeth's Friend
}}
Production
The film is inspired by Ugandan Monica Arac de Nyeko's 2007 Caine Prize-winning short story "Jambula Tree".{{Cite web |last=Nangsel |date=2020-02-10 |title=Film Review: Rafiki – To Love Or Not No To Love, When Love Is Illegal |url=https://feminisminindia.com/2020/02/11/film-review-rafiki-when-love-is-illegal/ |access-date=2024-11-21 |website=Feminism in India |language=en-GB}} The film's title "Rafiki" (meaning "friend" in Swahili) was chosen, because due to homophobia in society, partners in a same-sex relationship often need to introduce their partner as a "friend", even if they are more than a friend.
It took several years to find funding to produce the film. The filmmakers initially tried to get funding in Kenya, but that was not possible, so they found co-production partners in Europe as well as financing from Lebanon and the United States.{{Cite web|url=https://muchadoaboutcinema.com/2018/05/24/we-truly-love-our-country-an-interview-with-rafiki-director-wanuri-kahiu/|title="We Truly Love Our Country" — An Interview with 'Rafiki' Director Wanuri Kahiu|last=Bacon|first=Redmond|date=24 May 2018|website=much ado about cinema|language=en|access-date=23 March 2019|archive-date=9 February 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230209150723/https://muchadoaboutcinema.com/2018/05/24/we-truly-love-our-country-an-interview-with-rafiki-director-wanuri-kahiu/|url-status=dead}} It was produced by Big World Cinema, a South African company.{{Cite web |last=Roux |first=Erene |date=2020-06-11 |title='Rafiki': Award-winning Kenyan love story now streaming on Showmax |url=https://www.thesouthafrican.com/lifestyle/rafiki-showmax-kenya/ |access-date=2024-11-22 |website=The South African |language=en-ZA}}
Colours played an important role in the cinematography and art direction of the film. The filmmakers wanted to show that Nairobi is a very colourful city, which is why there is a lot of colour in the film. Scenes of intimacy between Kena and Ziki are shown in more tender pastel colours rather than the strong colour contrasts of the other scenes.{{Cite web |last=Guest |first=Africa in Words |date=2019-04-26 |title=‘Every time we have an opportunity to view other people or other places, it adds value to our own lives’: Talking inclusion, community and joy with ‘Rafiki’ filmmaker Wanuri Kahiu |url=https://africainwords.com/2019/04/26/every-time-we-have-an-opportunity-to-view-other-people-or-other-places-it-adds-value-to-our-own-lives-talking-inclusion-community-and-joy-with-rafiki-filmmaker-wanuri-kahiu/ |access-date=2024-11-22 |language=en}}
The film soundtracks featured several African artists such as Muthoni Drummer Queen, Chemutai Sage, Blinky Bill, Jaaz Odongo, Trina Mungai, Mumbi and Njoki Karu. The playlist was curated by Patricia Kihoro, who disclosed this during an interview.
It was Samantha Mugatsia's first film as an actress.{{Cite web |last=festivaldecannes |date=2018-05-09 |title=Rafiki as seen by Wanuri Kahiu |url=https://www.festival-cannes.com/en/2018/rafiki-as-seen-by-wanuri-kahiu/ |access-date=2024-11-21 |website=Festival de Cannes |language=en-US}} Kahiu discovered her at a friend's party and asked her to audition for the role, as she had some of the characteristics of the character Kena. Sheila Munyiva had acted in films before.
Through the film, Wanuri expressed that African art needs to showcase hope and joy rather than hardship, terror and wars. She terms this as Afrobubblegum, and she is a strong advocate for the cultural movement.{{Cite web |title=TIFF 2018: The Afrobubblegum of Wanuri Kahiu's "Rafiki" – Girish Shambu |url=https://girishshambu.net/2019/01/tiff-2018-afrobubblegum-of-wanuri.html |access-date=2024-11-21 |language=en-US}}{{Cite journal |last=Milne |first=Rachel |date=2023-09-01 |title='Fun, fierce and frivolous': Afrobubblegum and the possibilities of queer African love in Rafiki |url=https://intellectdiscover.com/content/journals/10.1386/qsmpc_00107_1 |journal=Queer Studies in Media & Popular Culture |language=en |volume=8 |issue=Representing Queerness: Modes, Manners and Methods |pages=297–314 |doi=10.1386/qsmpc_00107_1 |issn=2055-5695}} She also named her own Production Company as Afrobubblegum.{{Cite web |last=Busch |first=Anita |date=2018-05-16 |title=‘Rafiki’ Writer-Director Wanuri Kahiu Signs With The Gotham Group |url=https://deadline.com/2018/05/rafiki-writer-director-wanuri-kahiu-the-gotham-group-1202392686/ |access-date=2024-11-22 |website=Deadline |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=Rafiki (2019 Feature Film) – Curaçao International Film Festival |url=https://curacaoiffr.com/rafiki-2019-feature-film/ |access-date=2024-11-22 |language=en-US}}
Reception
On Metacritic the film has a score of 68 out of 100 based on reviews from 17 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".{{cite web |title= Rafiki |url= https://www.metacritic.com/movie/rafiki |website= Metacritic |access-date= 19 October 2019 |archive-date= 12 February 2024 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20240212180916/https://www.metacritic.com/movie/rafiki |url-status= live }}
The film made its Dutch premiere at the International Film Festival Rotterdam in 2019, during its 48th edition.{{Cite web |title=Dutch premiere of Rafiki at the International Film Festival Rotterdam |url=https://www.rinkelfilm.com/news/dutch-premiere-of-rafiki-at-the-international-film-festival-rotterdam |access-date=2024-11-21 |website=www.rinkelfilm.com |language=en-US}} It also got screened at the Dublin International Film Festival in the same year.{{Cite web |date=2019-02-27 |title=Film Review: Rafiki, 'A beautiful piece of African cinema that could have won an Oscar' |url=https://thecircular.org/film-review-rafiki-a-beautiful-piece-of-african-cinema-that-could-have-won-an-oscar/ |access-date=2024-11-21 |website=The Circular |language=en-US}}
=Ban in Kenya=
Rafiki was banned by the Kenya Film Classification Board (KFCB) "due to its homosexual theme and clear intent to promote lesbianism in Kenya contrary to the law".{{Cite news|url=https://twitter.com/InfoKfcb/status/989837096251781120|title=Kenya Film Classification Board on Twitter|work=Twitter|access-date=18 July 2018|archive-date=29 September 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230929071905/https://twitter.com/infokfcb/status/989837096251781120|url-status=live}}{{Cite news |last=Summers |first=Hannah |date=2018-04-27 |title=Canned in Kenya, set for Cannes: Rafiki falls foul of Nairobi film censors |url=https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2018/apr/27/kenya-rafiki-film-nairobi-censors-cannes-wanuri-kahiu |access-date=2024-11-21 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}} The Board asked the film director to change the ending, as it was too hopeful and positive. Kahiu refused, which led to the ban of the film. The KFCB warned that anyone found in possession of the film would be in breach of the law in Kenya, where gay sex is punishable by 14 years in jail. The ban raised international outrage by the supporters of LGBT rights.{{Cite news|url=https://www.nation.co.ke/news/Ban-of-Kenyan-film-over-lesbianism-criticised/1056-4535138-iuvqlo/index.html|title=Ban of Kenyan film over lesbianism criticised|work=Daily Nation|access-date=3 May 2018|language=en-UK|archive-date=27 July 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230727093332/https://www.nation.co.ke/news/Ban-of-Kenyan-film-over-lesbianism-criticised/1056-4535138-iuvqlo/index.html|url-status=live}}{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-43922780 |title=Kenya bans Rafiki ahead of Cannes debut over lesbian scenes |work=BBC News |date=27 April 2018 |access-date=8 May 2018 |archive-date=14 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240214152737/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-43922780 |url-status=live }}
The film's director, Wanuri Kahiu, sued Kenya's government, to allow the film to be screened and become eligible to be submitted as Kenya's entry for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film at the 91st Academy Awards.{{Cite web |date=2018-09-21 |title=Kenya Lifts Ban on Lesbian Love Tale, in Time for Oscar Nominations |url=https://www.voanews.com/a/kenya-lifts-ban-on-lesbian-love-tale-rafiki/4581894.html |access-date=2024-11-21 |website=Voice of America |language=en}}{{cite web |url=https://www.kenyans.co.ke/news/33039-government-sued-preventing-kenyan-movie-winning-oscars |title=Government Sued for Preventing Kenyan Movie From Winning Oscars |work=Kenyans |first=Mumbi |last=Mutuko |date=11 September 2018 |access-date=11 September 2018 |archive-date=13 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240213141551/https://www.kenyans.co.ke/news/33039-government-sued-preventing-kenyan-movie-winning-oscars |url-status=live }} She also sued for projected losses that would arise from the ban.{{Cite web |last=Vourlias |first=Christopher |date=2018-09-21 |title=Kenyan Judge Lifts Ban on LGBT Film 'Rafiki,' Enabling It to Qualify for Oscars |url=https://variety.com/2018/film/news/rafiki-kenya-ban-lifted-oscar-submission-1202952473/ |access-date=2024-11-21 |website=Variety |language=en-US}} On 21 September 2018, the Kenyan High Court judge, Wilfrida Okwany, temporarily lifted the ban on the film, allowing it to be screened in the country for seven days and meeting the minimum eligibility requirement.{{Cite web |last=Pedersen |first=Bruce Haring,Erik |date=2018-09-22 |title='Rafiki' Ban Temporarily Lifted By Kenyan Government; Film Held Out Of Cannes Now Eligible As Oscar Submission |url=https://deadline.com/2018/09/rafiki-ban-temporarily-lifted-by-kenyan-government-film-held-out-of-cannes-now-eligible-as-oscar-submission-1202469490/ |access-date=2024-11-21 |website=Deadline |language=en-US}}{{cite web |url=https://www.the-star.co.ke/news/2018/09/21/high-court-lifts-ban-on-lesbian-themed-movie-rafiki_c1822596 |title=High court lifts ban on lesbian themed movie 'Rafiki' |work=The Star (Kenya) |date=21 September 2018 |access-date=21 September 2018 |archive-date=9 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240209033513/https://www.the-star.co.ke/news/2018/09/21/high-court-lifts-ban-on-lesbian-themed-movie-rafiki_c1822596 |url-status=live }}{{cite web |url=https://www.tuko.co.ke/286608-high-court-lifts-ban-controversial-lesbian-movie-dismisses-moral-police-ezekiel-mutua.html#286608 |title=High Court lifts ban on controversial lesbian movie, dismisses moral police Ezekiel Mutua |work=Tuko |date=21 September 2018 |access-date=21 September 2018 |archive-date=2 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240202220917/https://www.tuko.co.ke/286608-high-court-lifts-ban-controversial-lesbian-movie-dismisses-moral-police-ezekiel-mutua.html#286608 |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |date=2018-09-24 |title=Kenya lifts ban on lesbian film ahead of Oscars |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/news/kenya-lesbian-film-ban-lift-rafiki-oscars-nairobi-court-order-lgbt-rights-a8551926.html |access-date=2024-11-21 |website=The Independent |language=en}} Once the ban was lifted, the film played to sold-out crowds at a cinema in Nairobi.{{Cite web |last=Griffin |first=Tamerra |date=2018-09-29 |title=People Had Seven Days To Watch A Film Banned For "Promoting Lesbianism" |url=https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/tamerragriffin/rafiki-kenya-screenings |access-date=2024-11-21 |website=BuzzFeed News |language=en}}{{cite web |url=https://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/movies/lesbian-film-rafiki-sells-out-after-kenyan-court-lifts-ban-20180924-p505k2.html |title=Lesbian film Rafiki sells out after Kenyan court lifts ban |work=The Sydney Morning Herald |date=23 September 2018 |access-date=23 September 2018 |archive-date=9 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230209150907/https://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/movies/lesbian-film-rafiki-sells-out-after-kenyan-court-lifts-ban-20180924-p505k2.html |url-status=live }} It raked in millions of shillings during this period.{{Cite web |date=2021-04-02 |title=‘Rafiki’ grosses millions in theatres |url=https://www.thecitizen.co.tz/tanzania/magazines/-rafiki-grosses-millions-in-theatres-2658454 |access-date=2024-11-22 |website=The Citizen |language=en}} Despite the concession, it was not selected as Kenya's submission in the Foreign Language Film category, with Supa Modo being sent instead.{{cite web |url=https://www.kenyans.co.ke/news/33539-supa-modo-kenyas-submission-oscars-rafiki-loses-out |title=Supa Modo is Kenya's Submission to Oscars, Rafiki Loses Out |last=Musyoka |first=Michael |work=Kenyans.co.ke |date=28 September 2018 |access-date=28 September 2018 |archive-date=13 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240213141551/https://www.kenyans.co.ke/news/33539-supa-modo-kenyas-submission-oscars-rafiki-loses-out |url-status=live }}{{cite web |url=https://variety.com/2018/film/news/supa-modo-kenya-berlinale-crowd-pleaser-oscar-hopeful-1202961174/ |title=Kenya Picks Berlinale Crowd-Pleaser 'Supa Modo' as Its Oscar Hopeful |work=Variety |first=Christopher |last=Vourlias |date=28 September 2018 |access-date=28 September 2018 |archive-date=14 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240214210246/https://variety.com/2018/film/news/supa-modo-kenya-berlinale-crowd-pleaser-oscar-hopeful-1202961174/ |url-status=live }}
=Awards=
Mugatsia won the Best Actress award at the 2019 FESPACO in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso for her portrayal of Kena.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-47435329 |title=Fespaco: Banned lesbian love story Rafiki wins award |publisher=BBC News |date=3 March 2019 |access-date=3 March 2019 |archive-date=26 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230326200024/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-47435329 |url-status=live }}
The film won the Best Narrative feature at the Seattle Queer Fim Festival in 2019. It also won the Silver Hugo award at the Chicago International Film Festival.{{Cite web |last=Kelleher |first=Patrick |date=2018-10-28 |title=Lesbian film Rafiki wins three awards at US festivals, despite ban in Kenya |url=https://www.thepinknews.com/2018/10/28/rafiki-kenya-film-awards/ |access-date=2024-11-21 |website=PinkNews |language=en-US}}
A comprehensive list of the Awards and Nominations Rafiki film has received over the past years is as follows:
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{IMDb title|8286894}}
{{Wanuri Kahiu}}{{GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding Film – Limited Release}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Rafiki}}
Category:2018 LGBTQ-related films
Category:English-language Kenyan films
Category:Kenyan LGBTQ-related films
Category:2010s LGBTQ-related drama films
Category:Lesbian-related films
Category:Swahili-language films