CurrentReport Blog A Lagos State High Court has ordered global entertainment giant Amazon and the producer of the controversial movie Gangs of Lagos to issue a public apology to the Isale Eko Descendants Union (IDU) for misrepresenting the cultural heritage and traditions of Lagos indigenes. The ruling, made on March 12, 2025, upholds the terms of settlement between the Isale Eko community and the entertainment company, while mandating Amazon to formally recognize the misrepresentation in the film and apologize to the community.
The Gangs of Lagos, a film released in April 2023, sparked widespread backlash, particularly from the Isale Eko community, over its depiction of the culture and traditions of the area. Set in Lagos, the film explores themes of street power, thuggery, and the violent undercurrents tied to the city’s political landscape. Critics, including the Lagos State government and the IDU, claimed that the movie inaccurately portrayed the city’s culture, reducing it to a portrayal of crime and degradation. The state government, through its Commissioner for Tourism, Arts, and Culture, Uzamat Akinbile-Yussuf, also expressed concerns, labeling the movie as a mockery of the rich cultural heritage of Lagos.
The IDU, representing the indigenous Isale Eko people, filed a lawsuit against Amazon and the movie’s producer, demanding N10 billion in damages. The legal complaint contended that the movie’s narrative was damaging and did not accurately reflect the long-standing traditions and cultural values of the Isale Eko community, particularly the revered Eyo Masquerade. The union’s request was rooted in a desire to protect the dignity and integrity of the culture and traditions of Lagosians, which they felt were unfairly portrayed as violent and criminal.
In its defense, Amazon argued that Lagos State did not have the constitutional power to censor films produced within its territory. The entertainment company maintained that the suit should be dismissed, claiming that the film was a work of fiction and that it should not be held accountable for the representation of the city’s cultural heritage. However, the court disagreed, emphasizing that the film’s portrayal of the Isale Eko people and their customs was misleading and damaging.
Justice Idowu Alakija of the Lagos High Court, in delivering the verdict, ruled that Amazon and the film’s producer must issue an unreserved apology to the applicants. The court stated that the Gangs of Lagos movie had wrongly represented the Isale Eko people, specifically disparaging the Eyo Masquerade and the cultural traditions of the community. In addition to the apology, the court ordered Amazon to issue a letter that would publicly acknowledge the misrepresentation and affirm the cultural significance of the Isale Eko traditions, particularly the Eyo Masquerade, which holds a special place in Lagosian culture.
The ruling is seen as a significant victory for the Isale Eko Descendants Union, as it not only seeks to protect the cultural heritage of the Isale Eko community but also establishes a legal precedent for the protection of indigenous cultural rights in Nigeria. The IDU expressed satisfaction with the court’s decision, emphasizing the importance of safeguarding the rights of indigenous communities.
In a statement following the ruling, the Chairman of the Isale Eko Descendants Union, Adeniyi Kazeem, SAN, celebrated the judgment, asserting that the ruling would go down in history as a victory for the cultural rights of Lagosians and indigenous communities across Nigeria. He noted that the Isale Eko community, though relatively small, had successfully demonstrated the need for cultural rights to be vigorously protected alongside other fundamental human rights.
Kazeem further emphasized that this legal victory was a testament to the community’s resolve to ensure that cultural narratives are accurately portrayed in the media. “Today is a great day for the Isale Eko community of Lagos State, all Lagos indigenous communities, and Lagosians generally. Today, the relatively small community of Isale Eko 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,” Kazeem said.
The Gangs of Lagos film controversy highlights the increasing importance of cultural sensitivity and respect for indigenous heritage in global entertainment. As global streaming platforms like Amazon continue to produce content targeting diverse audiences, the issue of cultural representation remains a topic of significant concern. The outcome of this case sets an important precedent for similar legal actions in the future, as indigenous communities and cultural groups across Nigeria and the world continue to push for greater representation and respect for their cultural legacies.
This ruling also emphasizes the growing role of the Nigerian judiciary in protecting the rights of indigenous communities in the face of global media influence, ensuring that cultural identities are neither misrepresented nor trivialized.
