The Lagos State Government has expressed displeasure with the promoters of “Gangs of Lagos” over cultural misrepresentation, noting that the film/series portrayed the culture of Lagos State in a derogatory manner.
In a Wednesday release, 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, viewed the film/series as a mockery of the heritage of Lagos.
The commissioner expressed 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 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,” the commissioner said.
Earlier, Prince Uthman Shodipe-Dosunmu, the Apesinọla Ẹyọ Ọba Alakẹtẹ Pupa Ọkalaba Ẹkun, a cultural group, had condemned the film, calling for an immediate withdrawal.
He described the film as an ugly, hate-filled mockery of the cultural heritage of Lagos.
“In their reckless, disgusting distortion of the sacred illustration of the Lagosian culture the film makers reduced the Eyo masquerade into a gun toting killing machine, clothing their misfit actors in the full regalia of the Eyo and with the Aga depicting some Conclaves.
“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,” Shodipe-Dosunmu said in a statement.
He noted that to use the sacred Adamu Orisha masquerade as an object of terror and loose criminality is to savage and despoil the Lagosian tradition.
“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 ban this blatant mockery disguising as cinematography and impose the most punitive sanctions on the sponsors of this venomous ethnic profiling,” he added.
“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,” Shodipe-Dosunmu stated.