Rafiki, the movie which Kenya Film Classification Board Chief executive officer Ezekiel Mutua banned in Kenya, was premiered at the on-going 71st Cannes Film Festival in Riviera, France. The movie was premiered on the second day of the festival, putting Kenya in the limelight.
Rafiki is competing in the category of Un Certain Regard together with other movies like “The harvesters” from South Africa, “Die,Monster,Die” from Argentina, ”Sextape” and “Angel Face”, both from France, among many others.
Rafiki, directed by Wanuri Kahiu, is a movie about love between two women. It explores the intricacies of lesbianism and the challenges that lesbians go through in a conservative society like Kenya. The movie tackles challenges like stigma facing lesbian couples. Actually, Rafiki is the first Kenyan movie to make the bold step to address the issue of lesbianism.
Ezekiel Mutua, immediately banned the movie the moment it premiered in Kenya. He cited homosexual content as the main reason why he banned the movie. He further said that lesbianism is against Kenyan laws and moral behaviours. For those who are not aware, you are liable to arrest if you caught watching the movie in Kenya. So as you check it out on the internet, just be on the lookout.