The Lagos State Government has expressed displeasure with the promoters of the “Gangs of Lagos” film/series over cultural misrepresentation and for portraying the culture of the State in a derogatory manner.
A statement signed by the Commissioner for Tourism, Arts, and Culture, Pharm. (Mrs.) Uzamat Akinbile-Yussuf said the Ministry, being the regulatory body and custodian of the culture of Lagos State, views the film/series as a mockery of the Heritage of Lagos.
The Commissioner expressed her disappointment with the promoters of the film, Jade Osiberu, and Kemi Akindoju, for portraying the Eyo Masquerade as a gun-wielding villain while adorning the full traditional regalia.
She said: “We are of the opinion that the production of the film ‘The Gang 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”.
Akinbile-Yussuf 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.
She added that the Eyo Masquerade is equally used as a symbol of honor 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.
I am the director of African Views Organization, a research and development initiatives organization that works on a variety of issues related to the diversity, complexity, and alliances of African cultural structures and intelligences around the world. The organization’s mission is to present the full tapestry of the collective global African values and the intersectionality of current challenges and potential opportunities towards achieving sustainable solutions for congruence, harmony, and peace in the African World and African contributions to all humanity. African Views has special consultative status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations (ECOSOC) and the Economic, Social, and Cultural Council of the African Union (ECOSOCC). This means that it can work with academics from different multidisciplinary faculties, multi-sectoral professionals, and student chapters from different countries to reach its goals. With this concept, African Views encourages understanding, responsibility, creative ideas, and new ways of doing things in order to find sustainable solutions for the betterment of humanity.
We gave the movie Gangs of Lagos a 9.5 out of 10. the highest score ever accorded to any movie made in Africa or anywhere else. What the ministry of culture needs to understand—and what they did not is that this movie arouses curiosity and inspires nostalgia in the Diaspora. Tourism in Nigeria is dominated by the Nigerian Diaspora; much of the public amenities in Lagos have been privatized and commercialized; the social vandalism cannot be blamed on the hypothetical influence of a great movie. Lagosians, compared to the Atohunriwas, know that this move reflects their reality.
The movie starts with strong and catchy opening scenes that grab the audience ‘s attention from the start. It maintains audience attention till the end with one coherent and exciting story. The ministry of culture must know the difference between an action-thriller, drama, or horror movie and a documentary or nonfiction work. This is important. This movie is about an Isale-Eko experience that is unapologetic, unpretentious, and highly inspirational. In fact, it shows that morality and ethics counted even among honest politicians and gives insight into the corruption of the proletariat. It is an amazing move. The best! Of course, it can be improved. I’d like to see Hausa culture in Lagos as well: the Suya, the Egungun etc. This movie was conservative in many ways for those who can understand Lagos Island life. We should thank them for being subtle, and concerned.
The least the honorable governor and the prudent ministry of culture can do is acknowledge the artistry and cinematography, even if they cannot see the genius of the movie. This film meets and exceeds all expectations. We can’t continue to shoot ourselves in the foot because we don’t understand cinema. It is not the movie that is portraying Lagos in a bad light; rather, it is the ministry that is backward, myopic, and obtuse. Everyone should see this movie, Gangs of Lagos.
I was born in Lagos, with roots in Isale Eko, Ofin, and Itafaji, and I lived on Willoughby Street, which is the center of the scenes depicted in this movie. I have written so many papers on Lagos. Including the history of Lagos and the power of African mythology The Ministry of Culture, which I believe did not commission or sponsor it, shouldn’t diminish the value of this movie. It is nevertheless a cultural product, and a great one at that. I hope the Department of Culture of Lagos revises its position on the assessment of this movie and promotes it. No one will be able to stop the popularity of this movie. When the Gangs of New York movie was released in America, everyone understood its value. How many cinema houses are left in Lagos today compared to the 1980s? All these cinema houses have been converted to churches. The reactionary outlet of the populous communities of Lagos Island has dramatically diminished. I would bet that things are worse today than they were in the 1980s. I think the Ministry of Culture has a misplaced priority. This is a moving picture for the cinema. We should thank the genius of the producers, the directors, the actors, and the screen and script writers; they did an amazing job. Please, let’s evolve and wise up. It is a movie! No, it is a great movie! Please let us stop ruining the creativity of the people. The Ministry of Culture should stay out of what they do not understand or do not know how to understand. There are schools for these things. The Lagos State government can invest in training its people to understand how to assess the creativity of its people and what to prioritize.