The Isale Eko Descendants Union has expressed satisfaction with a Lagos court ruling ordering the producers of ‘Gangs of Lagos’ to apologise for misrepresenting the Eyo masquerade
[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he Isale Eko Descendants Union (IDU) has welcomed the recent court ruling that mandates the producers of the controversial film Gangs of Lagos to issue an apology for misrepresenting the Eyo masquerade.
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The Lagos High Court approved a settlement between the IDU and the movie’s producers, marking a significant victory for the union and a protection of indigenous cultural heritage.
Directed by Jade Osiberu and produced by Kemi Lala Akindoju, Gangs of Lagos was released on April 7, 2023, on Amazon Prime Video.
The film quickly garnered backlash for its portrayal of Isale Eko, depicting it as a den of criminals and the Eyo masquerade as a gang of murderers.
The portrayal was seen as a defamatory attack on the cultural heritage and reputation of the Isale Eko people, leading the union to take legal action.
In the lawsuit, the IDU sought N10bn in damages against both the producers of the film and Amazon. The court ruling, delivered on February 20, 2025, confirmed that the parties had agreed to an amicable settlement.
Justice Idowu Alakija, presiding over the case, ordered that the 3rd to 11th respondents, including the film’s producers, issue a joint letter acknowledging the film’s wrongful portrayal of the Eyo masquerade and Isale Eko’s traditions.
The apology, according to the ruling, must recognise the cultural significance of the Eyo masquerade and the peaceful nature of Isale Eko’s people, offering an unreserved apology to the IDU.
Additionally, Amazon Web Services Nigeria Limited, listed as the 12th respondent, was ordered to issue a formal apology recognising the same points on its official letterhead.
This court ruling effectively requires both the filmmakers and Amazon to publicly admit their error in how the film depicted the community and its cultural heritage.
The Isale Eko Descendants Union expressed satisfaction with the judgment, viewing it as a crucial step in safeguarding Nigeria’s indigenous cultures.
“We feel vindicated by this judgment and thank the court system and the Lagos State Attorney General’s office for their role in resolving this dispute,” said Adeniji Kazeem (SAN), Chairman of the IDU, in a statement on Wednesday.
However, Kazeem also called on the national and state film censors to be more diligent in reviewing films that may misrepresent Nigerian cultures, urging greater scrutiny to prevent similar issues in the future.
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The ruling is considered a significant milestone for the protection of cultural heritage in Nigeria, setting a precedent for how cultural misrepresentations in films should be addressed legally.
