Film "Gangs of Lagos" makes mockery of our history: Lagos government

 BY: News Peddlers 

Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Lagos state governor 

The "Gangs of Lagos" producers have come under fire from the Lagos State Government for what they have called "cultural misrepresentation" and a negative portrayal of the state's culture.

In response, the state government's Commissioner for Tourism, Arts, and Culture, Mrs. Uzamat Akinbile-Yussuf, stated that the Ministry, as the governing body and keeper of Lagos State's culture, saw the movie or series as a parody of the city's history.

Earlier, Prince Uthman Shodipe-Dosunmu of the cultural organisation Apesinla yba Alakt Pupa kalaba kun had denounced the movie and demanded its immediate withdrawal.

The commissioner, who was dressed in full traditional regalia, stated her displeasure with the film's promoters, Jade Osiberu and Kemi Akindoju, for portraying the Eyo Masquerade as a villain who carries a pistol.

Instructively, the Eyo Festival is hardly ever observed and only occurs as a customary rite of passage for Obas, renowned Chiefs, and illustrious Lagos natives, whilst the Eyo Madquerade is utilised as a sign of honour for such individuals and noteworthy historical events.

"We are of the opinion that the production of the film 'The Gang of Lagos' is very unprofessional and misleading while its content is insulting to our culture, with the intention to desecrate the revered heritage of the people of Lagos," says Akinbile-Yussuf.

“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”.

The state government maintained that “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.”

Akinbile-Yussuf, stressed that “the Eyo Masquerade is equally used as a symbol of honour 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.”

Eyo custodian, Shodipe, and Dosunmu claim that Lagosians are not Gangsters.

Shodipe-Dosunmu previously criticised the movie in a statement, calling it a reckless, repulsive distortion of the hallowed representation of Lagos culture.

He said, "There is a movie being pushed right now by a Jade Osiberu and a different character named Kemi Akindoju. The so-called movie is an offensive, venomous parody of Lagosian culture.

"The film creators turned the Eyo masquerade into a gun-toting killing machine by dressing their misfit actors in the full regalia of the Eyo and using the Aga to depict certain Conclaves in their reckless, revolting distortion of the hallowed symbol of Lagosian tradition.

“This is a total abomination. It is not only a distortion of our culture, it is a dark insidious profiling of our people as criminals and murderers rampaging across Lagos.

“The Adamu Orisha is a treasured cleansing ritual, a sacred rite performed on the passage of an Oba or for their coronation.

“It is also used to honor distinguished Lagosians as their final rite of transition.

“Since Ejilu and Malakin, the brothers of Olori Olugbani first initiated the Eyo rite in celebration of Oba Ado Keme, the Adamu Orisha has become a sacred ancestral heritage celebrated with awe and deserving adoration.

“It signifies a sweeping renewal, a purificational ritual to usher in a new beginning, a beckoning of new light, acknowledging the blessings of our ancestors.

“To use the sacred Adamu Orisha Masquerade as an object of terror and loose criminality is to savage and despoil the Lagosian tradition.

“It is vile, evil, perverse; an utterly sadistic mangling of who we are as peace loving, accommodating and enlightened people.

“We demand an immediate withdrawal of this sacrilegious and outrageous trash.

“We demand that the National Film and Video Censors Board and all appropriate authorities to ban this blatant mockery disguising as cinematography and impose the most punitive sanctions on the sponsors of this venomous ethnic profiling.

“We also appeal to the Lagos State Government, the Oba of Lagos Alayeluwa Oba Rilwan Akinolu, all the custodians of our tradition including the Alaworo of Adamu Orisha and Akinsiku Chief Ademola Dosunmu to rouse up in protective defense of our tradition against the ravages of these agents of condemnable pollution of all that we cherish in this sacred soil of Oba Ado Keme.

“Ethnic profiling is recognized as a crime against humanity by the International Court of Justice.

“This provision can also be invoked against these sacrilegious hate baiters.”