Kahiu 's film , '' Rafiki ( Friend ) '' , received funding by the Netherlands Film Fund . The production company is Big World Cinema , a South African company supporting young African filmmakers . The production team came from Kenya , France , and the Netherlands . '' Rafiki '' chronicles the story of two Kenyan girls who fall in love with each other and struggle to navigate this love with their families in a homophobic society . In an interview with Olivier Barlet , Kahiu says that she chose to adapt Ugandan author Monica Arac de Nyeko 's short story , Jambula Tree , due to its " texture and nuances " in the taboo love story . Homosexuality in Africa has long been debated , but Kahiu tells Olivier Barlet that homophobia is not of the spirit of Ubuntu since it marginalizes people in the community . Above all , Kahiu finished her interview with Olivier Barlet by saying that she hopes the upcoming film will portray a " normal love story " that acknowledges the heroic challenges of choosing a " difficult love " . The film was selected to premiere at the 2018 Cannes Film Festival but was banned in Kahiu 's home country of Kenya due to its controversial themes . It was shown at the 2018 London Film Festival
2018 Cannes Film Festival
2018 Cannes Film Festival
Wanuri Kahiu