Lagos Court Approves Settlement Over Eyo Masquerade Depiction in Gangs of Lagos

A Lagos High Court has approved a settlement between the producers of Gangs of Lagos and the Isale Eko Descendants’ Union (IDU) following a legal dispute over the film’s controversial portrayal of the Eyo Masquerade. The agreement brings an end to months of legal proceedings and public criticism surrounding the movie’s depiction of Isale Eko and its cultural heritage.

The film, directed by Jade Osiberu and produced by Kemi Lala Akindoju, premiered on Amazon Prime Video on April 7, 2023. It quickly sparked outrage among the Isale Eko community, who objected to the way their neighborhood was presented as a crime hub and the Eyo Masquerade as a violent gang. In response, the IDU filed a lawsuit demanding N10 billion in damages from both Amazon and the filmmakers.

On February 20, Justice Idowu Alakija ruled that both parties had reached an out-of-court settlement. As part of the agreement, the filmmakers and Amazon are required to issue formal apologies for what the IDU described as the “erroneous portrayal and disparagement” of their cultural heritage. In return, the IDU and affiliated chieftaincy families agreed to withdraw all legal claims and refrain from filing future lawsuits on the matter.

“The Parties agree that this Term of Settlement is binding, and the applicants shall not further commence, file, maintain, continue, pursue, or prosecute against the respondents, any complaint, claims, suit, arbitration, or other administrative or proceedings of any kind based upon or related to the subject matter,” the court document stated.

Following the court’s decision, Adeniji Kazeem, chairman of the Isale Eko Descendants’ Union, expressed satisfaction with the outcome. “The community feels vindicated by this judgment,” he said. He also urged national and state regulatory bodies to take greater care in reviewing films that incorporate cultural elements.

“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,” Kazeem added.