The Lagos State Government has harshly criticized the new Nollywood film "Gangs of Lagos," which debuted on Prime Video on April 7, 2023.
The Jade Osiberu movie chronicles the lives of three friends who develop in the gang-infested Isale Eko neighborhood of Lagos.
Uzamat Akinbile-Yussuf, the state's commissioner for tourism, the arts, and culture, criticized the movie in a statement on Wednesday, April 12, saying it inaccurately depicted the state's culture.
She also chastised the filmmakers for depicting the respected Eyo masquerade as an armed antagonist.
"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.
"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."
After the Isale Eko Descendants' Union (IDU) similarly voiced its displeasure with how the Eyo masquerade was portrayed, the government issued the statement a few hours later. The masquerade, which plays at festivals and other significant occasions, is thought to represent the ancestors' spirits.
The IDU complained to the National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB), requesting that the film's approval be revoked. The cultural organization also ordered that the movie be taken off all broadcast media.
"The IDU and other community stakeholders will also be considering legal action for the damage done to the culture, tradition and image of the Isale Eko community and the Eyo masquerade," the group said.
Gangs of Lagos is the first African Original for Prime Video and part of Osiberu's three-year overall deal with the streaming platform.
