Rafiki is Kenya’s first ever film to be featured at the Cannes Film Festival. While many people are anticipating its release, Kenyans will not have a chance to watch as the Kenya Film Classification Board (KFCB) banned it over what it terms as the presence of ‘homosexual scenes’.
‘Rafiki’ has homosexual scenes counter to the law, the culture and the moral values of the Kenyan people. It seeks to legitimize lesbian romance.#KFCBbansLesbianFilm
Dr. @EzekielMutua@PresidentKE@WilliamsRuto@CSRashidEchesa@moscakenya@NellyMuluka@KibetBenard_@Khagali_M pic.twitter.com/4fvGztEivf— KFCB (@InfoKfcb) April 27, 2018
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KFCB head, Ezekiel Mutua, said the decision was reached after consultation with Film director, Wanuri Kahiu and other stakeholders and concluded that some scenes needed to be edited before the film was resubmitted for classification.
Kahiu took to social media to apologise to the supporters.
I am incredibly sorry to announce that our film RAFIKI has been banned in Kenya. We believe adult Kenyans are mature and discerning enough to watch local content but their right has been denied. #Cannes2018#AKenyanFirst
— Wanuri (@wanuri) April 27, 2018
The ban comes days after Mutua praised Kahiu and the film, saying that the film is Kenyan story, telling the complex issues youth face in the country.
Kenya is one of Africa’s countries laws against homosexuality.
Here’s the trailer for Rafiki.
