Barely five days after Jade Osiberu’s crime thriller ‘Gangs of Lagos’ film was released on Amazon Prime Video, it has begun generating intense reactions from indigenous Lagosians who are stakeholders in the Isale Eko area of Lagos where the film is set.
Some aggrieved Lagosians alleged that Isale Eko, a bubbly crowded neighborhood in Lagos Island with rich culture, monuments, and historical landmarks such as the ‘Iga Idunganran’ and the ‘Enu Owa’ Mosque, was allegedly brought to disrepute by the newly-released movie.
In a press statement issued on Wednesday by the Isale Eko Descendants’ Union (IDU) and signed by its Chairman, Yomi Tokosi, the movie producers are accused of illegally and scandalously depicting the unique Eyo Masquerade “as a camouflage, decoy, and subterfuge for murderers and gangsters operating in the Isale Eko area.”
The Union also pointed out that the Eyo Masquerade has been a part of the community’s cultural heritage since 1854, adding that it is only known for celebration in the community and not a tool in the hands of criminally-minded individuals or groups as depicted in the ‘Gangs of Lagos’ film.
The statement partly reads: “The attention of the Isale Eko Descendants’ Union (IDU) has been drawn to the very disturbing violent images in a new movie directed by Jade Osiberu and Kemi Lala Akindoju, Executive Produced by Adesegun Adetoro, Demi Olubanwo, Olumide Soyombo, Bankole Wellington, Adesua Etomi-Wellington, and Kola Aina; and filmed by Greoh Studios, and released by Amazon’s Prime Video Nigeria called Gangs of Lagos.
“In the movie, the unique Eyo Masquerade indigenous to the Isale Eko community in Lagos was illegally and scandalously depicted as being used as a camouflage, decoy, and subterfuge for murderers and gangsters operating in the Isale Eko area.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the Eyo Masquerade has been part of the unique cultural heritage of the Isale Eko community of Lagos since 1854 (169 years) and the Eyo is known as a masquerade for celebration in Lagos Island and not an instrument of gangs of criminals as illegally and scandalously portrayed. Most importantly, the movie has brought the Eyo Masquerade and the people of Isale Eko into disrepute, who are now deemed criminally- minded in the eyes of right-thinking members of the society.”
IDU further stated that it had submitted a petition to the National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB), requesting a withdrawal of the approval granted to the movie and is also considering legal action for the damage done to the culture, tradition, and image of the Isale Eko community.
In a related development, a prominent Lagos Chief, Prince Uthman Shodipe-Dosunmu, has described the ‘Gang of Lagos’ movie as a “dark insidious profiling” of Lagosians as “criminals and murderers”.
Shodipe-Dosunmu, while reacting to some contentious scenes in the film in a statement said the filmmakers “reduced the Eyo masquerade into a gun-toting killing machine, clothing their misfit actors in the full regalia of the Eyo and with the Aga depicting some Conclaves.”
Continuing, he added: “The Adamu Orisha is a treasured cleansing ritual, a sacred rite performed on the passage of an Oba or for their coronation. It is also used to honor distinguished Lagosians as their final rite of transition. Since Ejilu and Malakin, the brothers of Olori Olugbani first initiated the Eyo rite in celebration of Oba Ado Keme, the Adamu Orisha has become a sacred ancestral heritage celebrated with awe and deserving adoration.
“It signifies a sweeping renewal, a purification ritual to usher in a new beginning, a beckoning of new light, acknowledging the blessings of our ancestors.
“To use the sacred Adamu Orisha Masquerade as an object of terror and loose criminality is to savage and despoil the Lagosian tradition. It is vile, evil, perverse; an utterly sadistic mangling of who we are as peace-loving, accommodating, and enlightened people.”
He, therefore, called on the Lagos State Government, the paramount ruler of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Akinolu, and other stakeholders to come to the defense of the traditions of the people of Isale Eko, adding that the NFVCB should place an immediate ban on the film.
“We demand an immediate withdrawal of this sacrilegious and outrageous trash. We demand that the National Film and Video Censors Board and all appropriate authorities ban this blatant mockery disguised as cinematography and impose the most punitive sanctions on the sponsors of this venomous ethnic profiling.
“We also appeal to the Lagos state government, the Oba of Lagos Alayeluwa Oba Rilwan Akinolu, all the custodians of our tradition including the Alaworo of Adamu Orisha and Akinsiku Chief Ademola Dosunmu to rouse up in protective defense of our tradition against the ravages of these agents of condemnable pollution of all that we cherish in this sacred soil of Oba Ado Keme. Ethnic profiling is recognized as a crime against humanity by the International Court of Justice. This provision can also be invoked against these sacrilegious hate baiters,” his statement concluded.
Released on April 7 via Amazon’s Prime Video, ‘Gangs of Lagos’ tells the story of a group of friends who each have to navigate their own destiny, growing up on the bustling streets and neighborhood of Isale Eko, Lagos.
The crime-action thriller produced and directed by Jade Osiberu stars Tobi Bakre, Adesua Etomi, Iyabo Ojo, Demi Banwo, Chioma Akpotha, Zlatan Ibile, Bimbo Ademoye, Toyin Abraham, Yvonne Jegede, Yinka Quadri, Chike, Pasuma and a host of others.
