Rafiki Movie Earns Ksh3.3 Million in 1st Week of Airing

Rafiki movie grossed more than Ksh3.3 million in a period of 1 week beating other international big names like Tiffany Haddish’s Night School to be number one on Kenya’s Box Office.

The court-authorised 7-day theatrical run movie, whose case to permanently ban it in the country is still ongoing, became the second highest grossing of all time in Kenya behind Nairobi Half Life that also touched on Queerness.

Rafiki attained the fit after only one week of airing in a single theatre in three cities across the country attracting more than 6500 viewers.

The film has also made an impression across the international film scene being the first Kenyan movie of its Kind to be nominated for screening at Cannes Film Festival.

It is projected to screen across festivals in 20 countries including France, USA, South Africa among others.

The success of the theatrical release proves that there is a strong commercial market for it in Kenya. We intend to take this film to other African countries to continue to build the case that quality African films are commercially viable on our own continent.” Stated the movie’s Steven Markovitz.

Rafiki Kenya’s Distributor Crimson Media’s Trushna Patel confirmed adding that the movie experienced a rushed only ever experienced this year by the opening of Black Panther.

He further added that Prestige Cinema always operated at full house during the one week opening of the revolutionary film.

The movie failed to clinch an Oscar Academy’s nomination after the court allowed for the one-week screening to have a shot at the prestigious award. It lost to Supa Modo.

The movie’s fate is still in courts as the Creative Economy Working group seeks to have its right to expression recognised but also risks a total ban in the country.

The distributors of the film are now looking to expand the screening to other cities and towns across Africa.

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