A Lagos High Court has approved a settlement between the Isale Eko Descendants’ Union (IDU) and the producers of Gangs of Lagos following the controversial depiction of the Eyo Masquerade in the film.
Directed by Jade Osiberu and produced by Kemi Lala Akindoju, the movie was released on Amazon Prime Video on April 7, 2023. It faced widespread criticism for portraying Isale Eko as a hub of criminal activity and misrepresenting the revered Eyo Masquerade as a murderous gang.
In response, the IDU filed a lawsuit seeking N10 billion in damages from Amazon and the filmmakers. On February 20, Justice Idowu Alakija ruled that the parties had reached an amicable settlement. As part of the court order, the filmmakers and Amazon are required to issue formal apologies for “erroneously portraying and disparaging the cultural heritage” of the Eyo Masquerade and Isale Eko. In return, the IDU and its affiliated chieftaincy families agreed to withdraw all claims and legal actions, and to refrain from pursuing further lawsuits related to the film.
The court documents stated, “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.”
Adeniji Kazeem, Chairman of the Isale Eko Descendants’ Union, expressed satisfaction with the ruling, stating that the community “feels vindicated by this judgment.” He also called for greater vigilance from national and state film censors 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,” he added.
The settlement marks a significant resolution to the dispute, emphasizing the importance of respecting cultural heritage in creative works.
