6.5/10
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Rafiki (2018)

| Drama, Romance | 19 April 2019 (USA)
Rafiki Poster
Trailer
1:49 | Trailer
"Good Kenyan girls become good Kenyan wives," but Kena and Ziki long for something more. When love blossoms between them, the two girls will be forced to choose between happiness and safety.

Director:

Wanuri Kahiu

Writers:

Wanuri Kahiu, Jenna Cato Bass | 1 more credit »

Stars:

Samantha Mugatsia, Neville Misati, Nice Githinji | See full cast & crew »
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Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Samantha Mugatsia Samantha Mugatsia ... Kena Mwaura
Neville Misati Neville Misati ... Blacksta
Nice Githinji Nice Githinji ... Nduta
Charlie Karumi Charlie Karumi ... Waireri
Muthoni Gathecha Muthoni Gathecha ... Mama Atim
Vitalis Waweru Vitalis Waweru ... Tom
Sheila Munyiva Sheila Munyiva ... Ziki Okemi
Mellen Aura Mellen Aura ... Elizabeth
Leila Weema Leila Weema ... Elizabeth's Friend
Jimmy Gathu Jimmy Gathu ... John Mwaura
Nini Wacera ... Mercy
Stephen Ruiru Stephen Ruiru ... Motorbike Passenger
Mburu Kimani Mburu Kimani ... Delivery Truck Driver
Githae Njogu Githae Njogu ... Pastor
Dennis Musyoka Dennis Musyoka ... Peter Okemi
See full cast »
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Storyline

Kena and Ziki long for something more. Despite the political rivalry between their families, the girls resist and remain close friends, supporting each other to pursue their dreams in a conservative society. When love blossoms between them, the two girls will be forced to choose between happiness and safety. Inspried by Monica Arac de Nyeko's "Jambula Tree", which chronicles a story of two girls in love in Uganda, "Rafiki" challenges deep rooted cynicism about same sex relationships among actors, crew, friends, and family in Kenya. Written by sydsauce

Plot Summary | Add Synopsis

Plot Keywords:

title directed by female | one word title | f rated | kenya | lesbian | See All (37) »

Genres:

Drama | Romance

Certificate:

See all certifications »

Parents Guide:

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Details

Official Sites:

Official site | Official site [Germany] | See more »

Country:

Kenya | South Africa | Germany | Netherlands | France | Norway | Lebanon | UK

Language:

English | Swahili

Release Date:

19 April 2019 (USA) See more »

Also Known As:

Rafiki See more »

Filming Locations:

Nairobi, Kenya See more »
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Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$16,016, 21 April 2019

Gross USA:

$137,968

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$181,316
See more on IMDbPro »

Company Credits

Production Co:

Big World Cinema, MPM Film, Schortcut Films See more »
Show more on IMDbPro »

Technical Specs

Runtime:

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1
See full technical specs »
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Did You Know?

Trivia

Since homosexuality is illegal in Kenya, the lesbian love story was banned by the country's film classification board, but the director won a week's suspension of the ban in September of 2018 from the Kenyan high Court, so that locals could see it in theatres there for a brief period. See more »

Soundtracks

Stay
Performed by Njoki Karu (Beth Nijoki)
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User Reviews

 
Beautiful but shallow
25 November 2018 | by mokono – See all my reviews

It's a beautiful movie with a strong and important political and societal message. It's also a movie with very cliché characters and no real development. The story seems really just an excuse to add a little drama to the main romance, but is even too flimsy to accomplish anything. Does the political message lose its strength? Well, the movie did get banned, so it did enough.
6 of 17 people found this review helpful.  Was this review helpful to you? | Report this
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