Nigerian actor and movie producer, Prince Jide Kosoko, has described as “sad” the depiction of Eyo Masquerade in the controversial movie, ‘Gangs of Lagos’, as a tool for criminal activities.
The Lagos State Government, the custodians of the Eyo heritage and other stakeholders in the state had chided producers of the movie over what they called the bastardisation of the revered culture of the people of Isale Eko in Lagos.
Kosoko, who is from a royal family in Lagos, stated that the major problem was lack of respect for culture by some Nigerians, which include movie industry practitioners and lack of quality research by filmmakers in the process of coming up with their scripts.
“I find the issues surrounding the movie sad, not because of lack of technical quality but for the desecration of the culture of the good people of Lagos.
“Let me say here that the movie industry in Nigeria, especially movie producers and directors, are more guilty of lacking respect for our culture and failing to carry out quality research on their storylines before embarking on a movie project.
“Culture is vast and can actually provide us with quality storylines for great movies if only we pay good attention to details and carry out researches. That’s the only way we can compete favourably with other film making countries around the world. Stories woven around our culture are the best movie materials we can export to remain competitive. If we, however, destroy and desecrate this same culture, what then do we have to compete with?” Kosoko queried.
He further stated that quality of research will expose filmmakers to the origin of such cultures and traditions, thereby exposing them to the dos and don’ts.
According to Prince Kosoko, despite the fact that films like Gangs Of Lagos and its controversial content rest solely on the shoulders of the producer; he said actors, who were only called in to act their parts, become victims of the controversies, as the aggrieved parties, most times, do not care to know who should bear the responsibility.
“The controversy surrounding The Gangs Of Lagos reminds me of a similar film I was involved in that depicted the Egungun masquerade in bad light, to the displeasure of its adherents. I had a hard time convincing and placating the adherents. If I went through that, because of the insensitivity of a producer, I can only imagine what actors in The Gangs of Lagos are going through,” he added.
He however called on other leaders of the industry to come together and work out ways that will ensure such issues do not come up again.
He also said there might be the need for the industry to host workshops and seminars that will educate producers, directors, scriptwriters and even actors on proper usage of culture contents in movies. This, he said, would no doubt curb the growing abuse of culture and the traditions of the people in movies.
Meanwhile, the Oloja Chieftaincy family of Lagos, while reacting to the film warned that the Eyo is used in promoting Lagos heritage and culture, not gangsterism as depicted.
According to a statement signed by Prince Abiola Oloja-Kosoko, the family condemned the portrayal of Adamu Orisa and Eyo as gun – wielding and violent deities, and means of forcefully acquiring power and control in the society.
“The King Kosoko Royal Family and the Oloja Chieftaincy Family of Lagos, condemn in totality the movie called, ‘the Gang of Lagos’, for using the Adamu of Orisa and the Eyo paraphernalia in a way that does not depict the true history and spirit behind the Eyo Play”, the statement said.
“The King Kosoko Royal Family and the Oloja of Lagos Chieftaincy Families, will join hands with the entire people of Lagos whose pride and heritage have been desecrated, to fight with all legal and traditional means to call those involved to order.
“The Aloworo of Eyo, who is the Akinsinku of Lagos, and all the other elders in Lagos have been responding to the gross misrepresentation and they are waiting to take other necessary steps which have been put together by the entire Lagosians whose heritage has been given a bad name. The Kosoko palace and family are fully with them in this regard”, the Oloja–elect assured.
He noted that Adamu Orisa is only staged to traditionally usher departed souls into the realm of the dead and not for social engagements.
The Lagos Chief further called for the constitution of a special agency of the government that would be saddled with the responsibility of overseeing the culture and tradition of the people, adding that those that will be in charge of such agency must be people that have the full grasp of the task given to them.
