The Lagos state government and indigenes have chastised the promoters and marketers of the recently released film “Gangs of Lagos,” accusing it of insulting Lagos’ traditional heritage.
The Government stated on its website that the film “Gangs of Lagos” was a misrepresentation of Lagos, portraying the culture of Lagos State in an unflattering manner.
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The statement reads in part:
“A release signed by the Commissioner for Tourism, Arts, and Culture, Pharm. (Mrs.) Uzamat Akinbile-Yussuf said the Ministry, being the regulatory body and custodian of the culture of Lagos State, views the film/series as a mockery of the Heritage of Lagos.
“The Commissioner voiced her displeasure with the film’s promoters, Jade Osiberu and Kemi Akindoju, for depicting the Eyo Masquerade as a gun-wielding villain while dressed in full traditional regalia.
“We believe that the production of the film ‘The Gang of Lagos’ is unprofessional and misleading, and that its content is derogatory of our culture, with the intention of desecrating the revered heritage of the people of Lagos. It is an unfair portrayal of a people and culture as barbarous and sinister. It shows a group of murderers terrorising the state.”
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Also, the Isale Eko Descendants’ Union (IDU), a cultural organisation representing the descendants of Lagos Island’s original residents, have expressed dissatisfaction with the representation of the Eyo masquerade in the film, directed by Jade Osiberu.
The Eyo masquerade is a significant element of Lagos Island’s cultural legacy, and the inhabitants of Isale Eko regard it with reverence. The masquerade is a type of street theatre that is done during festivals and other big events. It is distinguished by the performers’ characteristic white clothes and masks, which are thought to represent the spirits of the ancestors.
Gangs of Lagos, which premiered on Amazon Prime Video on April 7, 2023, presented masquerades as a violent and intimidating presence employed by criminal gangs to intimidate and assassinate adversaries. The IDU has attacked this portrayal, claiming that it misrepresents the genuine essence of the Eyo masquerade and fosters negative misconceptions about their culture.
In a statement written by the union’s chairman, Mr Yomi Tokosi, the IDU voiced its outright unhappiness with how Isale Eko was portrayed in the film.
