Samantha Mugatsia who played the lead role as Kena Mwaura in Rafiki, a film banned by the Kenya Film Classification Board (KFCB) for “promoting lesbianism,” has shared details about the lessons she learnt from taking the role.
In an exclusive interview with eelive.ng, Ms Mugastia who recently bagged the Best Actress Award at the Pan African Film Festival (FESPACO) held at Ouagadougou in Burkina Faso narrated that the role made her become more sympathetic to the LGBTQ+ community.
In her words, “Definitely, I am more empathetic to the LGBQTIA+ community. The fact that there has been representation has created more room for love in my heart and discourse in our present day lives and experiences.”
The 25-year-old who had never acted a role until she landed this opportunity by a stroke of luck explained that the film presented an opportunity for her and everyone who is honest with themselves to see the reality of other people in the society. She encouraged the KFCB to consider lifting the ban on the film because, according to her, it is an opportunity to put history in perspective.”
She said: “The characters are Kenyan, the film was shot in Kenya, the story was written by a Ugandan, the film was directed by a Kenyan, All female. Africans are beings who exist fully and fundamentally every minute of their wake. Africans have always been breath-taking. So, we need to hear and see all kinds of life and love being celebrated. We need to see Kenyans in joy, our humanity cannot only be depicted in tears and scarcity. East Africans are full of love, fun and abundance.”
Speaking on how she broke the news of her role as a lesbian to her parents, the actress explained that it was a long process. She noted that she had to persuade her mother that films were make believe and a representation of reality for which no parents needed to worry about. One analogy that came in handy, according to her, was of Nollywood movies for which her mother has been a fan for years.
“I was like, Mom, you watch Nigerian movies all the time. A lot of Nollywood is witches and zapping and do we believe in that stuff happening? But you must have people who are in this other dimension with you. You know the story, you fell in love with the story. You have cried, you were anxious, you were vulnerable…. These conversations had to happen, and it had to come from us. It would be worse if they found out from a friend or someone else.”
Although it was her first role, she explained that the film has brought her so much recognition, the greatest of which was the award given by Africa’s oldest festival-FESPACO.
Mugatsia expressed her gratitude to the director of the film, Wanuri Kahiu, Dutch; acting coach, Elisabeth Hesemans and colleague actors in the movie for the excellent delivery of her role in the film.
Rafiki, means “friend” in “Swahili and it traces a coming-of-age love story between two young women who meets and fall in love. Their romance unfolds against a backdrop of homophobia and despite their families being on opposing sides of the political divide. The film is based on Jambula Tree, a prize-winning short story by Ugandan writer Monica Arac de Nyeko.”
Read full interview HERE
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