Rafiki

20182018
1h 23min

Samantha Mugatsia and Sheila Munyiva in Rafiki (2018)

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.

Play trailer1:49

"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."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."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
- Monica Arac de Nyeko(short story "Jambula Tree")
Stars

See production, box office & company info

See more at IMDbPro

Awards
- 17 wins & 17 nominations

Videos2

Official Trailer

Official Trailer

Rafiki

Wanuri Kahiu, Samantha Mugatsia, and Sheila Munyiva at an event for Rafiki (2018)

Samantha Mugatsia and Sheila Munyiva at an event for Rafiki (2018)

Rafiki (2018)

Rafiki (2018)

Rafiki (2018)

Samantha Mugatsia and Sheila Munyiva in Rafiki (2018)

Samantha Mugatsia in Rafiki (2018)

Samantha Mugatsia and Sheila Munyiva in Rafiki (2018)

Nice Githinji, Samantha Mugatsia, and Sheila Munyiva in Rafiki (2018)

Samantha Mugatsia in Rafiki (2018)

Rafiki (2018)

Samantha Mugatsia in Rafiki (2018)

Pariah

7.2

The Watermelon Woman

7.1

The Watermelon Woman

Princess Cyd

6.7

From a Whisper

6.4

Pumzi

7.3

Foreign Letters

6.9

Foreign Letters

Le Challat de Tunis

6.4

Le Challat de Tunis

I Am Not a Witch

6.9

I Am Not a Witch

Born in Flames

6.5

But I'm a Cheerleader

6.7

But I'm a Cheerleader

Danzón

6.9

Shiva Baby

7.1

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. —sydsauce

title directed by female one word title f rated kenya lesbian 32 more

Genres
- Drama
- Romance
Parents guide

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.

Soundtracks
Stay
Performed by Njoki Karu (Beth Nijoki)

Top review

8/10

Open your heart or not?

When your community and your family are against what you truly are, do you conform to their demands or do you fight for what you truly believe?

This is the question that Rafiki asks - the first Kenyan film to openly portray a same sex relationship. These things have been seen in other films around the globe before. But every society has a story to tell.

The film is colourful, well acted, thoughtful and sympathetic to its subject matter, despite it still being a crime in Kenya. Top marks for everyone involved in making such a brilliant movie. And making it available everywhere in the world.

helpful•17

1

Avwillfan89
Jun 26, 2019

Gross US & Canada
- $137,968
Opening weekend US & Canada
- $16,016
- Apr 21, 2019
Gross worldwide
- $181,316

See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

Runtime
- 1h 23min
Color
- Color
Aspect ratio
- 2.35 : 1

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Samantha Mugatsia and Sheila Munyiva in Rafiki (2018)

Top Gap

By what name was Rafiki (2018) officially released in India in English?

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