The star of lesbian love story Rafiki, Samantha Mugatsia, has won the best actress award at Africa’s largest film festival, despite the film being banned in Kenya.
The actress picked up the honour at FESPACO (Pan-African Film and Television Festival of Ouagadougou) in Burkina Faso on Saturday.
Wonderful news! @S_mugatsia won the Best Actress Award for her role in @Rafikimovie at the prestigious #Fespaco2019. The fact that Rafiki, a queer film, was even selected is a breakthrough! Congratulations Samantha Mugatsia! pic.twitter.com/9U1sfIPI5w— steven markovitz (@stevenmarkovitz) March 3, 2019
Rafiki was banned last year by the state-run Kenya Film Classification Board (KFCB) because of its “homosexual theme and clear intent to promote lesbianism.” Gay sex is illegal in Kenya.
Rafiki director Wanuri Kahiu: ‘Queerness cannot be silenced’
In reaction to the win, director Wanuri Kahiu tweeted: “So happy, overwhelmed, in tears! @rafikimovie WON best actress at FESPACO.
“The oldest African film festival acknowledged a queer character and awarded @S_Mugatsia for her depiction! Well done @S_Mugatsia!!! So proud! So proud! Queerness cannot be silenced!”
She added: “Winning Best Actress for RAFIKI at FESPACO is monumental. It is not only a recognition of Kenya’s artistry and adds Kenya to the history of African cinema, but a huge recognition of Freedom of Expression within Africa.
Last night Africa’s oldest and most prestigious film festival awarded @S_Mugatsia Best Actress in RAFIKI! Thanks to #Fespaco2019 for being bold & for programming our film. pic.twitter.com/DIRgvjZzbg— Tamsin Ranger (@tamsinranger) March 3, 2019
“We have the RIGHT to tell our stories, because they are precisely that — OURS. We have the RIGHT to have all voices heard because they are OURS.
“We have the RIGHT to create, because that’s how we share our humanity with the rest of the world.”
Last year, Rafiki won the audience and jury awards for Best Narrative Feature at the TWIST: Seattle Queer Film Festival, and also took the Silver Hugo award at the Chicago International Film Festival.