In 2018, ‘Rafiki’, the first Kenyan film to debut at the Cannes Film Festival, was similarly banned by the regulator for depicting a fictional story of a lesbian couple. Same-sex intimacy is criminalised in Kenya and this is not the first time the KFCB has banned a film with LGBTQ+ themes. “The voice of the lower class was missing and it was so important to get that narrative out – not just for Samuel and the general public’s information, but more so for queer people who have never seen themselves on a screen or as part of Kenya.” Colonial-era penal code
“In Kenya, privilege buys you security,” said Murimi, “so it’s much better coming out as queer and rich rather than queer and poor. ‘I Am Samuel’ follows the lives of Samuel Asilikwa and his partner, Alex, two gay working-class Kenyan men. The filmmakers have also put together a printed discussion guide to encourage audiences to have impactful conversations about the film. Get one whole story, direct to your inbox every weekday.
