By After more than a year of legal battles, Amazon Prime and the producers of Gangs of Lagos have agreed to settle with the Isale Eko Descendants Union, following backlash over the film’s portrayal of Lagos culture. As part of the agreement, Prime Video will issue a public apology for misrepresenting the Eyo Masquerade and the Isale Eko community.
The dispute began when the Isale Eko Descendants Union filed a lawsuit against Amazon Prime, seeking a ₦10 billion fine for allegedly depicting Isale Eko as a criminal hub and portraying the revered Eyo Masquerade as a violent gang. The case was heard at the Lagos State High Court at Tafawa Balewa Square.
In the consent judgment delivered by Justice Idowu Alakija, Amazon and the filmmakers acknowledged the concerns raised by the Isale Eko Descendants Union. As part of the settlement, they agreed to officially recognize that Gangs of Lagos inaccurately represented the community’s cultural heritage and issue an unreserved apology.
Amazon will also send a formal letter, stating its acknowledgment of the Isale Eko Descendants Union’s stance. The letter will affirm that the film’s portrayal of Eyo Masquerade and the Isale Eko people was misleading and did not reflect their true traditions and peaceful nature.
Mr. Adeniji Kazeem, SAN, chairman of the Isale-Eko Descendants Union, described the court’s decision as a victory for indigenous cultural rights. He emphasized that traditional communities have the right to protect their heritage and should not be misrepresented without their consent.
The ruling reinforces the 2007 United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, which states that indigenous cultures must be protected from exploitation. With the court-backed settlement, the Isale Eko Descendants Union hopes this case will set a precedent for respecting cultural heritage in film and media.
