Wanuri Kahiu is an accomplished Kenyan filmmaker, producer and author, known for her incredible film ‘Whisper‘, she’s interested in telling African stories in a more adventurous way, a way she calls ‘Afrobubblegum‘. This time she comes ahead with Rafiki. A world of she’s created of Africa shown in a new character, one that has the people doing incredible things and reaching new elevations of their own creation in a new Africa that appreciates them more. It’s exciting to experience a new era of storytelling in Africa being championed by young filmmakers all over deciding to reach a new audience, an audience with the zeal of making a more resourceful future for themselves.
I’m so excited!!!! We did it!!! My new film RAFIKI is invited to premiere at Cannes Film Festival. First Kenyan feature film to be invited to the festival. Please join me in congratulating the Kenyan cast and crew! What an amazing feat! #AKenyanFirst #RafikiMovie #cannes2018
— Wanuri (@wanuri) April 12, 2018
Wanuri Kahiu’s storytelling has paid off in her new movie ‘Rafiki, explained on the film’s official website as ‘a story between two female characters Kena and Ziki, who 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.
The new film, which is Wanuri’s second feature film will be premiering at this year’s Cannes Film Festival making it first Kenyan feature film to screen at the festival. The film is based on 2007 Caine Prize Winner, Monica Arac de Nyeko’s “Jambula Tree,” a similar story of two Ugandan girls falling in love.
Her success in the film industry is a great boost to young girls in Africa with dreams of being in cinema, telling a perspective of their own stories.