LAGOS, Nigeria – Oba Rilwan Akiolu of Lagos has intervened in the ongoing controversy surrounding the film “Gangs of Lagos,” describing its depiction of the ‘Eyo’ as criminal gangs as defamatory and sacrilegious.
In a three-page letter dated on Wednesday, June 28, 2023, the monarch communicated his disapproval to the managements of Amazon Prime Nigeria and Greoh Ltd, outlining four conditions to be met within a two-week timeframe.
Oba Akiolu has demanded that Amazon Web Service, Greoh Studios, and the film producers “immediately remove, cease, and desist from using the image getup and manifestation of the Eyo in the Gangs of Lagos.” He argues that the film has caused significant reputational damage to the Eyo brand.
“Gangs of Lagos,” since its release, has stirred controversy among the indigenous people of Lagos State. The Isale Eko Descendants Union, IDU, has claimed that the film wrongly depicts Isale Eko as a den of criminals and the Eyo masquerade as a murderous gang.
The descendants of Isale Eko have filed a lawsuit seeking N10 billion damages from Amazon and other producers for the alleged reputational damage inflicted on the Eyo brand.
Oba Akiolu expressed concern that the film could deter potential tourists and visitors to Lagos, as they may question the authenticity of the Eyo as a cultural heritage event deserving of respect and reverence.
The traditional ruler argued that the producers used the complete getup and traditionally designed appearance of the Eyo – part of the cultural heritage of Lagos’s indigenous people – for commercial gain and exploitation without seeking permission or referencing the office of the Oba of Lagos.
“I am the custodian and final authority of the Adimu Orisa and its manifestation the Eyo. These traditional rites are the tangible and intangible property of the indigenes of Lagos… They must not be used without the indigenous owners’ express permission or desecrated in any way whatsoever,” Oba Akiolu stated.
The monarch alleged that the film violated the rights of the indigenous people of Lagos in contradiction to the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples 2007.
