Today is a great day for the Isale-Eko Community of Lagos State, All indigenous
Communities of Lagos and Lagosians generally.
Today, the relatively small community of Isale – Eko in Lagos State 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.
Indeed the 2007 United Nations Declaration on the rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) states
amongst other things that the culture of indigenous people must be protected. That
indigenous people have intellectual property rights in their culture and there can be
no exploitation or usage of those rights without the express permission of the
indigenous communities.
Today, Honourable Justice Idowu Alakija of the Lagos High Court has endorsed the
Terms of Settlement entered into by the Isale Eko Descendants Union (Applicants)
and Amazon Web Services (Defendant) along with 11 other Defendants as a judgement of the Court.
The judgement amongst other thing provides that:
1. The 3rd - 11th Respondents (the Film Producers) shall jointly issue a letter recognizing the Applicants position that the Movie titled "Gangs of Lagos" erroneously portrayed and disparaged the cultural heritage of the wellrespected Eyo Masquerade and the peace-loving nature and the long-standing traditions of the Isale-Eko People, and shall therein, tender an unreserved apology to the Applicants – Isale Eko Descendants Union in this regard.
2. The 12th Respondent (Amazon Web Services Nigeria Limited) shall issue on its: Letter Head, a letter recognizing the Applicants' (Isale Eko Descendants Union) position that the Movie titled “Gangs of Lagos" erroneously portrayed and disparaged the cultural heritage of the well-respected Eyo Masquerade and the peace-loving nature and the long-standing traditions of the Isale-Eko People, and shall therein, tender an unreserved apology to the Applicants
in this regard. We feel vindicated by this judgement and thank the Court system and the office of the Lagos State Attorney General for the positive role it played in resolving this
dispute.
However, we must state that the National and State Film censors must be more
vigilant in the scrutiny of Films that are licensed for viewing either on physical
screens or on digital platforms beaming into the Nigerian digital space.
Furthermore, we assert that there are strong imperatives for Lagos State to revisit its
Constitutional rights to properly oversee the production and censorship of Films
utilizing its cultural material and resources.
Finally, I thank our Royal Father Alaiyeluwa Oba Riliwanu Akiolu 1 (Oba of Lagos),
our Legal team led by Mr. Supo Shasore SAN, the Isale Eko Descendants Union
Trustees, Elders, Members and all well-meaning Lagosians who gave both physical and spiritual support.
God bless you all.
Adeniji Kazeem SAN, FCArb
Chairman Isale-Eko Descendants Union