Association of Emerging Artists berates ‘Gangs Of Lagos’ for depicting creatives as criminals

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The National Association of Emerging Artists (NAEA) has expressed displeasure with the promoters of the ‘Gangs of Lagos’ movie.

NAEA said it was disappointed with the portrayal of artists as “criminals” by the producer and director Kemi Akindoju and Jade Osiberu.

A statement recently released by the group’s spokesperson, Unadey Jones, stated this.

The statement partly read, “Casting artists as criminals have harmed the pop cultural fabric of Nigeria and upholded harmful musician stereotypes.”

The director cast singers Chike, Pasuma, and Zlatan Ibile in gangster roles in the movie.

Chike, particularly, played the role of Ify, aka Panamo, a rising artist who was involved in gangsterism and was eventually killed by his gang members to cover up a secret.

Meanwhile, the Lagos State Government has also described ‘Gangs of Lagos’ movie as a “cultural misrepresentation”.

The State Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Mrs. Uzamat Akinbile-Yussuf, frowned at the promoters of the movie for depicting the Eyo Masquerade as a gun-wielding villain while adorning the full traditional regalia.

Earlier, the Prince Uthman Shodipe-Dosunmu, the Apesinọla Ẹyọ Ọba Alakẹtẹ Pupa Ọkalaba Ẹkun, a cultural group, ordered the promoters of ‘Gangs of Lagos’ to withdraw the movie immediately, describing it as “ethnic profiling, sacrilegious and outrageous trash.”