JUST IN: Controversy trails depiction of Eyo in ‘Gangs of Lagos’

Since the release of an action-crime thriller movie, ‘Gangs of Lagos’, produced and directed by Jade Osiberu, it has continued to attract both positive and negative reactions.

Many people, especially of Lagos origin, took exception to the way the Eyo masquerade was portrayed in the movie. The Lagos State Government, through its Ministry of Tourism, expressed discontent with the producers of the movie over what they termed ‘a cultural misrepresentation and for portraying the state’s culture in a derogatory manner’.

A statement signed by the Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Uzamat Akinbile-Yussuf, stated that ‘the Eyo masquerade represents honour for remarkable historical events, signifying a total renewal, a purification ritual to usher in a new beginning, a beckoning of new light, and acknowledging the blessings of the ancestors of Lagosians’.

The statement read in part, “We think that the production of the film is very unprofessional and misleading, while its content is derogatory to our culture. 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.”

In a similar vein, the Isale Eko Descendants’ Union threatened to take legal action against the producers of the movie. In a statement released during the week, , the union’s chairman, Yomi Tokosi, stated that the movie ‘scandalously portrayed the Isale Eko community and Eyo masquerade in the bad light of platforms for criminal activities’. It also called on the National Film and Censors Board to withdraw the approval granted to the movie.

Popular actor, Jide Kosoko; and rapper, Vector, both Lagosians, were also not pleased with the portrayal of the masquerade in the movie.

Kosoko said, “I find the issues surrounding the movie sad; not because of lack of technical quality but for the desecration of the culture of the good people of Lagos.

“Let me say here that the movie industry in Nigeria, especially movie producers and directors, are guilty of lacking respect for our culture and failing to carry out quality research on their storylines before embarking on movie projects.

“Stories woven around our culture are the best movie materials we can export to remain competitive. If we, however, destroy and desecrate that same culture, what then do we have to compete with?”

On his part, Vector stated that the Eyo masquerade was not a criminal gang in all ramifications.