Lagos indigenes under the auspices of the Isale-Eko Descendants Union have won a major legal victory in the fight to protect their cultural heritage.
The Lagos High Court, presided over by Justice Idowu Alakija, has formally adopted the Terms of Settlement between the Isale-Eko Descendants Union and Amazon Web Services, along with 11 other defendants, as a court judgment.
This landmark decision reinforces the rights of indigenous communities to safeguard their cultural identity and ensures that their heritage is not misrepresented or exploited without consent. The ruling aligns with the 2007 United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), which affirms that indigenous communities hold intellectual property rights over their cultural heritage.
The judgment mandates the producers of “Gangs of Lagos” to issue a formal letter acknowledging the Isale-Eko Descendants Union’s position that the movie inaccurately portrayed the Eyo Masquerade and misrepresented the peaceful traditions of the Isale-Eko people. They must also tender an unreserved apology to the Union.
The ruling also mandates Amazon Web Services to issue a formal letter on its official letterhead recognising the Union’s stance that “Gangs of Lagos” wrongly depicted Isale-Eko’s cultural heritage. The company must similarly extend an unreserved apology.
The Isale-Eko Descendants Union welcomed the court’s decision as a victory for indigenous rights and cultural protection. However, the Union has called for stricter oversight of film content in Nigeria.
“We urge national and state film censors to be more vigilant in scrutinising movies that are licensed for public viewing, whether on physical screens or digital platforms accessible in Nigeria,” the Union stated.
Additionally, the Union has urged the Lagos State Government to assert its constitutional authority in regulating films that use the state’s cultural materials and resources.
Chairman of the Isale-Eko Descendants Union, Adeniji Kazeem expressed gratitude to the Lagos State Judiciary and the Attorney General’s office for their roles in resolving the dispute. He also thanked the Oba of Lagos, Alaiyeluwa Oba Riliwanu Akiolu I, the Union’s legal team led by Supo Shasore SAN, as well as trustees, elders, members, and supporters of the Isale-Eko community.
“This judgment is a significant step in the ongoing fight to protect our cultural heritage. We remain committed to ensuring that our traditions and history are accurately and respectfully represented,” Kazeem concluded.
