Eyo Festival Archives

LAGOS STATE GOVERNMENT CONDEMNS “GANGS OF LAGOS”, “A MOCKERY OF THE YORUBA HERITAGE”

PUSH NEWS 24 INTERNATIONAL: April 14, 2023

By Olasunkanmi Akoni

Lagos State Government has expressed displeasure with the promoters of the “Gangs of Lagos” film/series over what it described as “cultural misrepresentation” as well as portraying the culture of the state in a derogatory manner.

In a reaction by the state government, the Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture, 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.

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.

Shodipe-Dosunmu described the film as “ethnic profiling, sacrilegious and outrageous trash.”

Meanwhile, 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.

Instructively, the Eyo Festival is rarely observed and only comes up as a traditional rite of passage for Obas, revered Chiefs and eminent Lagos Indigenes while the Eyo Madquerade is used as a symbol of honour for such personalities and remarkable historical events.

According to Akinbile-Yussuf, “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”.

The state government 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.”

Akinbile-Yussuf stressed 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.”

Lagosians are not Gangsters-Says Eyo custodian,Shodipe-Dosunmu

In an earlier reaction via a statement, Shodipe-Dosunmu, described the film as reckless, disgusting distortion of the sacred illustration of Lagos culture.

According to him, “There is a film presently being promoted by one Jade Osiberu and another character called Kemi Akindoju. The so called movie is an ugly, hate filled mockery of the Lagosian heritage.

“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.

“It signifies a sweeping renewal, a purificational ritual to usher in a new beginning, a beckoning of new light, acknowledging the blessings of our ancestors.

“To use the sacred Adamu Orisha Masquerade as an object of terror and loose criminality is to savage and despoil the Lagosian tradition.

“It is vile, evil, perverse; an utterly sadistic mangling of who we are as peace loving, accommodating and enlightened people.

“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 to ban this blatant mockery disguising as cinematography and impose the most punitive sanctions on the sponsors of this venomous ethnic profiling.

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.”

“GANGS OF LAGOS MOVIE” – LAGOS INDIGENES ACCUSE LASG OF EMPLOYING STRANGERS INTO CULTURE MINISTRY

PUSH NEWS 24 INTERNATIONAL : April 24th, 2023

Every year, there is always a movie that leaves viewers wanting more, be it a sequel or a series. Although it might seem too early to conclude which of Nollywood’s 2023 releases has managed to capture viewers’ hearts, it’s undoubtedly that Gangs of Lagos falls into the list of contenders.

The movie’s plot revolves around a group of friends to a life of crime in the famous and daunting streets of Isale Eko. After losing loved ones, they set out on a quest for vengeance to right the wrongs of the gangs on the road.

The Kosoko Royal family position.

Adamu Orisa, Eyo Are Used In Promoting Lagos Heritage, Culture, Not Gangsterism – Oloja of Lagos-Elect

Kunle Adelabu.

The King Kosoko Royal Family and Oloja Chieftaincy Family of Lagos, have condemned in totality what it termed as gross misrepresentation of the culture and heritage of Lagosians – Adamu Orisa and Eyo, in a film titled, ‘The Gang of Lagos’.

In a statement by Prince Abiola Olojo – Kosoko, the family vehemently opposed and took exception to the portrayer of the Adamu Orisa and Eyo as gun – wielding and violent deities, and means of forcefully acquiring power and control in the society.

The Oloja – elect, who issued the statement on Thursday, in support of the steps so far taken by the Aloworo of Eyo who is the Akinsinku of Lagos, elders and entire Lagosians, pledged the palace continuous support for the redress of the wrong done and more importantly, the desecration of the culture of the people of Lagos.

“The King Kosoko Royal Family and the Oloja Chieftaincy Family of Lagos, condemn in totality the movie called, ‘the Gang of Lagos’, for using the Adamu of Orisa and the Eyo paraphernalia in a way that does not depict the true history and spirit behind Eyo Play”, Prince Kosoko said.

“The King Kosoko Royal Family and the Oloja of Lagos Chieftaincy Families, will join hands with the entire people of Lagos whose pride and heritage have been desecrated, to fight with all legal and traditional means to call those involved to order.

“The Aloworo of Eyo, who is the Akinsinku of Lagos, and all the other elders in Lagos State have been responding to the gross misrepresentation and they are waiting to take other necessary steps which have been put together by the entire Lagosians whose heritage has been given a bad name.

The Kosoko palace and family are fully with them in this regard ”, the Oloja – elect assured. Putting the record straight, Prince Kosoko said that Adamu Orisa is only staged to traditionally usher departed souls into the realm of the dead and not for social engagements.

“There is nowhere in the history of Lagos where Eyo is seen carrying a gun or machete. The only object that Eyo carries is Opambata, the beautiful white regalia to cover its body and the Aga (hat), all of which made it a special deity with reference point which Lagos State as a whole is known with as an insignia to promote culture and tradition.

Unfortunately, somebody has come to use it to promote gangsterism. We would fight and prevent this from continuing”, he said.

“We are not saying that we are against what they are doing, rather, what we are saying is that they should consult with the people in charge of such heritage.

Adamu Orisa and Eyo are not for celebrations of birthdays and other social engagements that celebrate people that are still alive. It is being used to celebrate the dead and ushering their spirits for a better continuous existence in the realm of the dead.

“It is for cleansing. The process that is involved takes a minimum of three months. The ritual rites and necessary procedures must be performed”. He also cautioned and called for the constitution of an special agency of the government that would be saddled with the responsibility of overseeing the culture and tradition of the people, adding that those that will be in charge of such agency must be people that have the full grasp of the task being given to them.

“The Lagos State Censor Board and the National Census Film Censor Board cannot be blamed much, because there is problem of not putting the right people in the right place. You cannot in any way put outsiders in charge of censoring the culture and tradition of a place they know little or nothing about, because such people would not know or even perceive any wrongdoing when such culture and tradition are desecrated”, he said.

“My advice to the film boards is that any movie that has to do with culture and tradition, the producers of such movies should be asked to bring letter of clearance from traditional bodies in charge of such culture or tradition, so that there won’t be any legal issue or problem like we are facing now, and which may adversely affect the success of the Nigerian movie industry.

Highlights of the Movie

Movie Title: Gangs of Lagos

Release Date: 7th April 2023

Director: Jade Osiberu

Runtime: 2 hours plus

Cast: Tobi Bakare, Adesua Etomi-Wellington, Chike Osebuka, Chioma Chukwuka, Olarotimi Fakunle, Chioma Chukwuka, Bimbo Ademoye, Iyabo Ojo, Zlatan, Debo “Mr Maraconi” Adedayo, Yhemolee, Pasuma, Toyin Abraham, Tayo Faniran, Damilola Ogunsi, and Funke Williams.