The Isale Eko Descendants Union (IDU) has welcomed a Lagos High Court ruling directing the producers of the film Gangs of Lagos to issue a formal apology for misrepresenting the Eyo masquerade and depicting Isale Eko as a hub of crime. The case, which had Amazon Web Services Nigeria Limited and the film’s producers as respondents, ended in a court-approved settlement agreement.
The ruling, delivered by Justice Idowu Alakija on February 20, 2025, acknowledged IDU’s concerns that the film had erroneously portrayed and disparaged the cultural heritage of the Eyo masquerade and the peace-loving people of Isale Eko.
Directed by Jade Osiberu and produced by Kemi Lala Akindoju, Gangs of Lagos was released on Amazon Prime Video on April 7, 2023. Shortly after its release, the movie faced backlash for allegedly portraying the Eyo masquerade as a gang of murderers and Isale Eko as a crime-ridden community. In response, IDU filed a N10 billion lawsuit against Amazon and the film’s producers, arguing that the film defamed their cultural heritage.
In the ruling, the court ordered that the producers of the film must issue a formal apology acknowledging that the film misrepresented the Eyo masquerade and Isale Eko traditions. Additionally, Amazon Web Services Nigeria Limited must issue a separate letter of apology on its official letterhead.
Following the ruling, IDU Chairman, Adeniji Kazeem (SAN), expressed satisfaction, stating that the judgment sets a significant precedent for protecting indigenous cultural heritage in Nigeria. He emphasized that the court’s decision reinforces the need for filmmakers to be more responsible when representing cultural symbols and traditions.
“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,” Kazeem said in a statement. He also called on national and state film censors to be more vigilant in reviewing films to prevent misrepresentation of Nigerian cultures.
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