Kenya has banned the exhibition of "Rafiki", the first film in its history to be screened at Cannes, as it is a lesbian story
GAYLES.TV.- The babbling of LGTBI activism to improve the situation of people from the collective in Kenya encounters an insurmountable wall: that of the rigid moral that punishes with up to 14 years of prison the homosexual relations based on a law of the colonial stage.
And the conflict that is being lived around the projection of "Rafiki" in Kenyan territory it does not escape this atavism. The decision to ban the premiere has been made by the Film Rating Council of Kenya (KFCB) due to the argument that tells the story of a friendship between two women who end up falling in love. The person in charge of monitoring the content of the films alleges that he is being vetoed "because of his homosexual theme and his clear attempt to promote lesbianism in Kenya contrary to the law". Insisting on the fact that "contains homosexual scenes that go against the law, culture and moral values of the Kenyan people," noting that "any exhibition or distribution of the aforementioned film or part of it for public consumption contravenes the law and will lead to severe punishment. "
Pathetic if we consider that "Rafiki" is the first film in the history of the country that has been invited to participate in the section Palma Queer de Cannes, where from the next 8 in May will compete with films like "Carmen y Lola" by Arantxa Echevarría. The director of the tape, Wanuri Kahiu has declared in an interview to the agency Reuters: “I am very disappointed, because Kenyans already have access to movies with LGBT content through Netflix and international festivals that arrive in Kenya and are allowed by the Council itself. So to censor the premiere of a Kenyan film that deals with issues that are already present in their society seems a bit contradictory. "
But the censorship of the film is, paradoxically, generating an expectation and even indignation in sectors of the population that are not LGTBI. "It's an outrage, a shame. And the people of Kenya will see the film censored or not. They will find a way to see it. " That's how hard it has been shown Lorna Dias, Kenyan activist for LGTBI rights in an interview with the same news agency.
"Rafiki", which is an adaptation of the story "Jambula Tree" from the Ugandan writer Monica Arac, comes to swell the long list of films banned by the KFCB that with its censorship places the Kenyan society in the minority in terms of access to cultural content. The conflict has reached the point of forcing some statements to the chain CNN of the President of the country, Uhuru Kenyatta, in which he assures that the rights of lesbians, gays, transsexuals, bisexuals and intersexes, is a subject "without relevance, it is not a matter of human rights" adding that, according to him, he is rejected by the Kenyan society.
Perhaps the saddest thing about this situation of taboo and repression that exists in Africa is, like the law that in this case prevents the exhibition of "Rafiki", a dark and terrible legacy of Western colonialism. As it explains Marc Serena in his book "This is not African", The pre-colonial societies and culture on the continent were not at all homophobic. Another plague more than the Africans suffer thanks to Western greed. It is worth reading if you have the opportunity and also view the interview that once made him Gayles.tv and that you will find following this link: "This is not African!".
And of course, to make your mouth, do not miss the trailer of "Rafiki" that we bring you here.
Sources: lavanguardia.com, elpaís.com
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