The Oba of Lagos, Rilwan Akiolu, has demanded that the producers of the movie “Gangs of Lagos” and Amazon Prime Video remove the image and representation of the Eyo masquerade from the film. The movie, written by Kay Jegede and Jade Osiberu, was released on Prime Video on April 7, 2023, and has faced criticism for its portrayal of the Eyo masquerade as the “first gang of Lagos.”
In a letter addressed to the producers and Amazon Web Service, Oba Akiolu described the movie as defamatory and sacrilegious, causing reputational damage to the Eyo brand. He asserted that as the custodian and final authority of the Adimu Orisa and its manifestation—the Eyo, he has the responsibility to protect the cultural heritage and traditions of Lagos.
The Oba accused the producers of exploiting the appearance of the Eyo for commercial gain without permission or proper reference to his office. He demanded the immediate removal of the Eyo’s image from the film and requested a compensatory proposal for the infringement of intellectual property rights related to the cultural heritage. The Oba also called for an appropriately worded apology to be submitted to him and the indigenous people of Lagos.
The Lagos State Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Uzamat Akinbile-Yussuf, the Isale Eko Descendants’ Union, and other notable individuals, including actor Jide Kosoko, have expressed their disagreement with the portrayal of the Eyo masquerade in the movie.
One of the co-writers of the movie, Kay Jegede, clarified in an interview that the film did not intend to denigrate the Eyo culture. Jegede emphasized that the movie portrays characters and that if a criminal disguises himself as a revered cultural symbol, it does not imply disrespect from the filmmakers towards the symbol. Jegede hoped that the story would be seen as a depiction of the human spirit’s resilience despite challenging circumstances.
The 14-day ultimatum given by the Oba of Lagos for the removal of the Eyo’s image from the film will expire on July 12, 2023.
