Court Bans Public Viewing and Streaming of ‘Gangs of Lagos’

A Lagos High Court has banned the public viewing and streaming of Gangs of Lagos, ruling that it misrepresents the Eyo Masquerade and Isale-Eko traditions.

The decision followed a lawsuit by the Isale Eko Descendants Union against Amazon Web Services and others.

A Lagos High Court sitting in Tafawa Balewa Square (TBS) has ruled against the public viewing and streaming of the controversial film Gangs of Lagos, following allegations that it misrepresented and disrespected the cultural heritage of the Isale-Eko community.

VerseNews reports that the decision was contained in a consent judgment delivered by Justice Idowu Alakija in the suit LD/6903GCM/2023, filed by the Isale Eko Descendants Union and two others against Amazon Web Services and 11 other defendants.

The court upheld the applicants’ argument that the film wrongly depicted the revered Eyo Masquerade in a negative light and distorted the peace-loving traditions of the Isale-Eko people.

The Lagos State Commissioner for Tourism, Arts, and Culture, Mrs. Uzamat Akinbile-Yussuf, also condemned the movie, stating that the ministry viewed it as “a mockery of the heritage of Lagos.” She accused the film’s promoters, Jade Osiberu and Kemi Akindoju, of portraying the Eyo Masquerade as “a gun-wielding villain while adorning the full traditional regalia.”

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“We are of the opinion that the production of the film Gangs of Lagos is very unprofessional and misleading while its content is derogatory of our culture, with the intention to desecrate the revered heritage of the people of Lagos,” Akinbile-Yussuf said. “It is an unjust profiling of a people and culture as being barbaric and nefarious. It depicts a gang of murderers rampaging across the state.”

She further emphasized that Eyo is a sacred cultural symbol, not associated with crime. “The Adamu Orisha, popularly known as the Eyo Festival, is rarely observed and only comes up as a traditional rite of passage for Obas, revered Chiefs, and eminent Lagosians,” she explained. “The Eyo Masquerade is equally used as a symbol of honor for remarkable historical events. It signifies a sweeping renewal, a purification ritual to usher in a new beginning, a beckoning of new light, acknowledging the blessings of the ancestors of Lagosians.”

Gangs of Lagos, the first African Original on Prime Video, follows the lives of three friends growing up in crime-ridden Isale Eko and their descent into gang life. The movie is part of Jade Osiberu’s three-year deal with the streaming platform.

With the court ruling, all public screenings and online streaming of the film have now been banned, marking a significant win for cultural activists seeking to preserve the historical and traditional identity of Lagos.

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