- A Lagos court has ordered the producers of Gangs of Lagos to apologise to the people of Isale Eko
- The 2023 lawsuit alleged that the Nollywood film disrespected the culture and traditions of the Isale Eko people
- Following the verdict, the Isale Eko Descendants Union (IDU) commended the court for protecting their culture
Two years after the lawsuit filed by the Isale Eko Descendants Union (IDU), a Lagos High Court has ordered Gangs of Lagos producers and Amazon to apologise over cultural misrepresentation.
In 2023, IDU alleged that Gangs of Lagos, directed by Jade Osiberu, disrespected the Eyo masquerade with its misrepresentation.
Presiding over the case, Justice Idowu Alakija ruled that the film producers and Amazon should issue an unreserved apology to the Isale Eko people.
According to the Judge, the apology should acknowledge the film’s misrepresentation of the Eyo Masquerade and its disrespect towards the peaceful traditions of the Isale Eko people.
Reacting to the recent verdict through a statement, on Wednesday, March 12, IDU chairman, Adeniyi Kazeem, expressed his satisfaction on behalf of the union.
What the IDU chairman’s statement read
The statement read in part,
“Today is a great day for the Isale-Eko Community of Lagos State, all indigenous Communities of Lagos and Lagosians generally. Today, the relatively small community of Isale – Eko in Lagos State was able to establish that along with other rights, there are inalienable cultural rights that accrue to indigenous communities that need to be vigorously protected.
“Indeed the 2007 United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) states, amongst other things, that the culture of indigenous people must be protected. That indigenous people have intellectual property rights in their culture and there can be no exploitation or usage of those rights without the express permission of the indigenous communities.
“We feel vindicated by this judgement and thank the Court system and the office of the Lagos State Attorney General for the positive role it played in resolving this dispute. However, we must state that the National and State Film censors must be more vigilant in the scrutiny of Films that are licensed for viewing either on physical screens or on digital platforms beaming into the Nigerian digital space.
“Furthermore, we assert that there are strong imperatives for Lagos State to revisit its Constitutional rights to properly oversee the production and censorship of Films utilizing its cultural material and resources. Finally, I thank our Royal Father Alaiyeluwa Oba Riliwanu Akiolu 1 (Oba of Lagos), our Legal team led by Mr. Supo Shasore SAN, the Isale Eko Descendants Union Trustees, Elders, Members, and all well-meaning Lagosians who gave both physical and spiritual support.”
“Tribal bigot,” Nollywood director Jade Osiberu fires back at critics over old political tweets
Meanwhile, TheRadar earlier reported that Gangs of Lagos director Jade Osiberu faced heavy criticism over an old political tweet she made.
Based on the old tweet, netizens accused the director of being a tribal bigot for not supporting Peter Obi and now for complaining about the present administration.
