The producers of the movie Gangs of Lagos and Amazon Prime have apologised to the Isale Eko Descendants Union over the film’s depiction of the Isale Eko community and the revered Eyo masquerade.
This comes nearly two years after the union filed a lawsuit challenging the portrayal of their cultural heritage in the movie. In April 2023, PREMIUM TIMES reported that Isale Eko union and the Lagos government condemned the portrayal of Eyo Masquerade.
In one of the scenes of ‘Gangs of Lagos’, the movie portrays assassins operating under the cover of Eyo masquerades.
In a statement on Wednesday, Adeniji Kazeem, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) and Chairman of the Isale-Eko Descendants Union, confirmed that the parties have settled.
In a suit marked LD/6903GCM/2023 at the Lagos High Court sitting at Tafawa Balewa Square, a trial judge, Idowu Alakija, delivered a consent judgement between the Isale Eko Descendants Union and the defendants, including Amazon Web Services and the film’s producers.
The settlement terms require the producers and Amazon Prime to tender an unreserved apology for the wrongful portrayal of Isale Eko as a haven for criminals and the Eyo masquerade as a group of assassins.
According to the settlement agreement, Amazon Web Services Nigeria Limited will issue an official letter acknowledging that Gangs of Lagos misrepresented the cultural heritage of the Isale Eko community and the Eyo masquerade.
Similarly, the film’s producers, including Greoh Limited, Jadesola Osiberu, Kemi Akindoju, and other executive producers, will issue a joint letter recognising the Isale Eko Descendants Union’s stance and offering a formal apology.
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