A Lagos State High Court has ruled that Amazon and the producers of the controversial movie Gangs of Lagos must issue a public apology to the Isale Eko Descendants Union (IDU) for inaccurately portraying their cultural heritage and traditions.

The court also upheld a settlement agreement involving IDU, Amazon, and 11 other defendants.

Gangs of Lagos Sparks Controversy Over Cultural Misrepresentation

Released in April 2023, Gangs of Lagos stirred controversy for its depiction of violence, thuggery, and street power dynamics in Lagos. The Lagos State government, through its Commissioner for Tourism, Arts, and Culture, Uzamat Akinbile-Yussuf, condemned the movie as a distortion of the city's rich cultural heritage.

Similarly, the Isale Eko Descendants Union (IDU) filed a lawsuit demanding ₦10 billion in damages from the filmmakers and Amazon, arguing that the film misrepresented their traditions and the revered Eyo Masquerade.

Court’s Verdict: Amazon Must Apologize

During the legal proceedings, Amazon contested the lawsuit, stating that Lagos State lacked the constitutional power to censor films. However, on March 12, 2025, Justice Idowu Alakija ruled that Gangs of Lagos had wrongly depicted the cultural identity of the Isale Eko people.

The court mandated that Amazon, as the 12th respondent, issue an official letter acknowledging that the film misrepresented and disparaged the long-standing traditions of the Isale Eko community. The company must also tender an unreserved apology to the applicants.

IDU Reacts: Victory for Lagos Indigenous Communities

Following the ruling, IDU Chairman Adeniyi Kazeem, SAN, expressed satisfaction, emphasizing the importance of protecting cultural heritage.

“Today is a historic moment for the Isale Eko community, all Lagos indigenous communities, and Lagosians at large. We have reaffirmed that indigenous cultural rights are inalienable and must be vigorously safeguarded,” Kazeem stated.

This landmark judgment reinforces the need for filmmakers to respect and accurately represent cultural identities in their storytelling.