Amazon has issued a formal apology to the Isale-Eko Descendants’ Union regarding the portrayal of Eyo Masquerade in the film “Gangs of Lagos, ” in a significant development for cultural representation in Nigerian media.
The apology comes as part of a settlement in lawsuit LD/6903GCM/2023, where Amazon Web Services Nigeria Ltd was named as the twelfth defendant in a case brought by the Isale-Eko Descendants’ Union and two others against the Attorney General of Lagos State and other parties.
In the letter dated January 2, 2025, Amazon.com Services LLC acknowledged that the movie “Gangs of Lagos” erroneously portrayed and disparaged the cultural heritage of the Eyo Masquerade, which holds significant importance in Isale-Eko tradition.
“The movie ‘Gangs of Lagos’ is a work of fiction. The intention of the movie’s promoters (including Amazon) was purely artistic and did not intend to denigrate the Isale-Eko tradition or the Eyo Masquerade,” the letter states.
The streaming giant expressed understanding of concerns raised by the union regarding misrepresentation of “the peace-loving nature and the longstanding tradition of the Isale-Eko people.”
The apology was addressed to Chief Ayodele Bajulaiye and Chief Abdul-Waheed Ayeni, representing the Bajulaiye Chieftaincy Family and Sasore Chieftaincy Family respectively.
This case highlights growing sensitivity around cultural representation in Nigerian cinema and the responsibility of global streaming platforms in accurately portraying local traditions.
