A Lagos High Court has directed the producers of Gangs of Lagos to issue a formal apology for misrepresenting the Eyo masquerade and depicting Isale Eko as a hub for criminal activities.
The ruling, delivered by Justice Idowu Alakija on February 20, follows a legal dispute between the Isale Eko Descendants Union and the filmmakers.
The IDU had filed a lawsuit against the movie’s producers—Jade Osiberu and Kemi Lala Akindoju—as well as Amazon Web Services Nigeria Limited, demanding N10 billion in damages over the film’s portrayal of their cultural heritage.
Released on Amazon Prime Video on April 7, 2023, Gangs of Lagos drew backlash for associating the revered Eyo masquerade with gang violence. The IDU argued that the film distorted their traditions and sought legal redress.
In a court-approved settlement, the filmmakers and Amazon were ordered to recognize the concerns raised by the IDU and formally apologize.
The ruling states that the movie “erroneously portrayed and disparaged the cultural heritage of the well-respected Eyo masquerade and the peace-loving nature and long-standing traditions of the Isale-Eko people.”
Reacting to the judgment, IDU Chairman, Adeniji Kazeem (SAN), expressed satisfaction with the outcome.
“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,” he said.
Kazeem also called for stricter oversight of film productions to prevent cultural misrepresentation. “We urge the national and state film censors to be more vigilant in scrutinizing films that misrepresent Nigerian cultures,” he added.
