The newly released crime-action thriller, Gangs of Lagos, directed by Jade Osiberu has continued to attract criticism for what many perceived as a misrepresentation and defamation of Isale Eko Community and the sacred Eyo Masquerade.
The latest of the criticisms is coming from the Apesinola Eyo Oba Alakete Pupa Okalaba Ekun, Prince Uthman Shodipe-Dosunmu in a press statement issued on Wednesday.
Shodipo-Dosunmu thumbed down the movie in strong terms explaining that it is an ugly, hate-filled mockery of the Lagosian heritage.
The Lagos chief called out the director for portraying the Eyo Masquerade in false light rather than the sacred ancestral heritage of Lagosians that it is.
The statement titled ‘Lagosians are not gangsters’ read in part: “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 filmmakers 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.”
Elucidating on the importance and sacredness of the Eyo Masquerade, Shodipe-Dosunmu said: “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.”
The Lagos Chief called on the National Film and Video Censor Board (NFVCB) to withdraw the movie from public domain as he appealed to the Lagos State Government, Oba of Lagos and other authorities to rise in defense of Lagos 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 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 rise 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 batters,” he concluded.
