- GLAAD, the world’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) media advocacy organization
Rafiki, Kenya’s first feature film to be invited to the Cannes Film Festival in 2018 won at the 31st 2020 GLAAD Media Awards.
The film by Wanuri Kahiu starring Sheila Munyiva and Samantha Mugatsia won Outstanding Film – Limited Release Category.
The GLAAD Media Awards honor media for fair, accurate, and inclusive representations of LGBTQ people and issues.
Since its inception in 1990, the GLAAD Media Awards have grown to be the most visible annual LGBTQ awards show in the world, sending powerful messages of acceptance to audiences globally.
“Visibility of LGBTQ people has always mattered and this year it’s more important than ever. LGBTQ people – especially youth – are now forced to isolate in homes and spaces that might not be affirming. As a result, LBGTQ media images are even more of a lifeline for LGBTQ people,” says GLAAD on its site.
Other films that competed within the category include: Adam (Wolfe Releasing), Brittany Runs a Marathon (Amazon Studios), End of the Century (The Cinema Guild), The Heiresses (1844 Entertainment), Kanarie (Breaking Glass Pictures), Pain & Glory (Sony Pictures Classics), Portrait of a Lady on Fire (NEON), Socrates (Breaking Glass Pictures), and This Is Not Berlin (Samuel Goldwyn Films).
Wanuri made the announcement on her Twitter feed thanking her crew:
“To our brilliant cast and crew! RAFIKI keeps shining your light! Thank you for being part of this work! We salute you! Thank you @glaad.”
Rafiki inspired by the Caine Prize 2017 winning story Jambula Tree by Monica Arac de Nyeko, is a film about two young women in love who challenges the larger human rights issues associated with same-sex relationships in East Africa.
