The new Nollywood film “Gangs of Lagos,” which debuted on Prime Video on April 7, 2023, has drawn a stern condemnation from the Lagos State Government.
Uzamat Akinbile-Yussuf, the state’s Commissioner for Tourism, Arts, and Culture, criticised the movie for misrepresenting the state’s culture in a statement on Wednesday, April 12.
She also chastised the creators for making the legendary Eyo masquerade appear to be a violent cultural organization.
She said: “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.”
A few hours before, the Isale Eko Descendants’ Union (IDU) had made a similar statement about their displeasure with how the Eyo masquerade was being portrayed. It is thought that the masquerade, which appears during festivals and other significant occasions, represents the ancestors’ spirits.
The IDU filed a complaint with the National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB), requesting the revocation of the film’s approval. The cultural group also demanded that the movie be taken off of all viewing platforms.
