What I Learnt from My Lesbian Role in “Rafiki”- Samantha Mugatsia

Samantha Mugatsia, the 25-year Kenyan who played the role of Rena in film Rafiki was named Best Actress at the recently concluded Pan African Film Festival(FESPACO). In this interview with eelive.ng, she speaks about how she got the role, which is her first and why she thinks the ban on the public exhibition of the film should be lifted by Kenya authorities.

Tell us a bit about Samantha Mugatsia, background, education and how your interest in acting came about?

I am a Nairobi, Kenya based year 1993 born artiste. I have one sibling and I am in near completion of my first degree in Law (LLB)  haha! I have two units left. I wouldn’t say I was quite interested in the media of expression, while I was younger, I created characters in my mind, growing up, until now. Interaction with this medium of expression, film as an actor brought me to vocalise these beautiful thoughts we keep in our head.

How did you land the role of Kena in Rafiki?

It was more of serendipity, I met the director, Wanuri Kahiu, at a week-long Local Artisans Pop-Up: hosted by “Bongosawa” meaning – “like minds” in Kiswahili. Shortly after, she shared the script with me. I was a bit hesitant as it was around the end of the year, and I felt like I didn’t have enough creative juice to take off on such a journey.  Following four years of casting, I was the last one to be cast. So, personally I didn’t audition, but my character was auditioned versus other character’s in the script.

Now, this is essentially your first role and it’s a major and daring one, how did you feel about the role, what did you do to prepare yourself for it?

The first non-stop read of the script had me in love at first sight. I knew I was daring myself as my character built most of the story. Preparations began way before with Wanuri and my co-actors before she graciously carried me into the care of my Dutch acting coach, Elisabeth Hesemans. As soon as we began the acting workshops, our characters slowly began this evolution. An example of some exercises we went through is method acting, which involved synchronizing a whole lot of your personal preferences to mould the character, even in your everyday life! Like how would Kena, go to the supermarket?

Given the conservative nature of most African societies, did you have any fears about how Kenya and your family, in particular, would take the news of your role?

Tradition is static, culture dynamic. There was definitely anxiety, not fear. Making this art piece released us from this fear. From the very beginning we had to exist in a space of love, trust and vulnerability. This is what existed then and now. Art is created to stir minds

How did you prepare your family for it?

We began having conversations way before preparation and kept having them after the premiere at Cannes last year. To be honest, dealing with our parents, we just stuck to the fiction part of it. 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. You went through all of that, so for it not to exist is even more heartache, I think. 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.”

Has the film changed your life in anyway?

Definitely, there is a whole lot of recognition so popping up at the regular club can be overwhelming. Personally, being my first role, this was a very reassuring experience for me.  I am eternally grateful for this opportunity.

Why do you think the KFCB should un-ban this film for popular distribution?

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.

This has been a reality in existence since the pre-colonial period, it is important to highlight how detached we are in our present realities which directly puts out our history in stories.

Has the film made you understand the emotions of the LGBT and possibly more sympathetic to them?

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.

It is not every day that an actor gets such huge recognition as the best actress you got at FESPACO, how did this award make you feel as a person and about your career?

I feel very honoured that the oldest film festival in Africa allowed the programming of our film. It is still quite overwhelming, and I am grateful for the whole team that has been in our support all through. It’s a pivotal time for queer persons of colour to be on screen and be celebrated on screen, again I am grateful to be part of this revolutionary voice and experience as a Kenyan.

What are your immediate career plans?

Music, being around and making more music. Besides acting, I am a drummer with a Nairobi based band. That’s where I’m trying to gain my hours professionally. I’ve been a drummer with a band known as Yellow Light Machine since 2015. We are like the Eclectic Live festival band. We’ve gained our fans through live performances, so we don’t have any recorded music out there, but we’re working towards that. Before the end of the year we’ll have a solid plan for recording.