Rafiki (12A) + Q&A

With beautiful scenes connected through shades of fuchsia and violet, reflecting the femininity of the characters, this gentle film follows the development of love between two young women.

Set against the backdrop of the bustling streets of Nairobi, the two very different young women must choose between love and safety surrounded by insular gossip, local politics and burgeoning maturity.

Their magnetic pull draws us into a queer Romeo and Juliet romance, as they try to hide their relationship from their politically opposing fathers.

Directed by Wanuri Kahiu, part of a strong cohort of Kenyan female filmmakers, Rafiki was the first Kenyan film to be included in the Un Certain Regard section in Cannes in 2018 and was then controversially banned from being shown in Kenya by the Kenya Film Classification Board.

The screening will be introduced by two of HOME's Young Film Collective participants, Linda Wachaga and Anita Ezeh who will then lead a post screening panel discussion with special guests: Carmen Thompson, a programmer and creative producer based in Edinburgh with interests centred around cinema from the African continent and the Black diaspora, and Philippa Walusimbi, who has been working alongside musicians, artists whilst programming in various arts organisations such as B:Music, Shakespeare’s Birthplace Trust and Sheffield DocFest.