The makers of the film Gangs of Lagos and Amazon Prime Video, where it is currently streaming, have been contacted by the Oba of Lagos, Rilwan Akiolu, asking them to stop exploiting the image and manifestation of the Eyo masquerade in the movie right away.
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The film, which was produced, directed, and edited by Jade Osiberu and Kemi Lala Akindoju, was made available on Prime Video on April 7, 2023.
Since the film’s debut, it has drawn criticism for portraying the Eyo masquerade as the “first gang of Lagos,” among other things.
In a statement acquired by our correspondent, Oba Akiolu referred to the film as a libellous and sacrilegious work that did significant reputational harm to the Eyo brand.
The statement read in part, “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.
“This cultural heritage is the legacy of physical artefacts and intangible attributes, that have been inherited from past generations for over 200 years, maintained in the present by the Oba of Lagos, and bestowed for the benefit of future generations.
“These traditions express our way of life and thought. They are proof of our intellectual and spiritual achievements. They must not be used without the indigenous owners’ express permission, or desecrated in any way whatsoever.”
