Adamu Orisa, Eyo Used In Promoting Lagos Heritage, Culture, Not Gangsterism – Oloja-elect

The King Kosoko Royal Family and Oloja Chieftaincy Family of Lagos, have condemned in totality what they termed as gross misrepresentation of the culture and heritage of Lagosians – Adamu Orisa and Eyo – in a film titled, ‘The Gang of Lagos’.

According to a statement signed by Prince Abiola Olojo–Kosoko, the Oloja-elect of Lagos, the families vehemently opposed and took exception to the portrayal of the Adamu Orisa and Eyo as gun–wielding and violent deities, and means of forcefully acquiring power and control in the society.

The Oloja–elect, who issued the statement on Thursday, in support of the steps taken so far by the Aloworo of Eyo, who is the Akinsinku of Lagos, elders and entire Lagosians, pledged the palace’s continuous support for the redress of the wrong done and more importantly, the desecration of the culture of the people of Lagos.

“The King Kosoko Royal Family and the Oloja Chieftaincy Family of Lagos, condemn in totality the movie called, ‘the Gang of Lagos’, for using the Adamu of Orisa and the Eyo paraphernalia in a way that does not depict the true history and spirit behind Eyo Play.

“The King Kosoko Royal Family and the Oloja of Lagos Chieftaincy Families, will join hands with the entire people of Lagos whose pride and heritage have been desecrated, to fight with all legal and traditional means to call those involved to order.

“The Aloworo of Eyo, who is the Akinsinku of Lagos, and all the other elders in Lagos have been responding to the gross misrepresentation and they are waiting to take other necessary steps which have been put together by the entire Lagosians whose heritage has been given a bad name. The Kosoko palace and family are fully with them in this regard,” the Oloja–elect assured.

Putting the record straight, Prince Kosoko said that Adamu Orisa is only staged to traditionally usher departed souls into the realm of the dead and not for social engagements.

“There is nowhere in the history of Lagos where Eyo is seen carrying a gun or machete. The only object that Eyo carries is Opambata, the beautiful white regalia to cover its body and the Aga (hat), all of which made it a special deity with reference point which Lagos State as a whole is known with as an insignia to promote culture and tradition. Unfortunately, somebody has come to use it to promote gangsterism. We would fight and prevent this from continuing.

“We are not saying that we are against what they are doing, rather, what we are saying is that they should consult with the people in charge of such heritage. Adamu Orisa and Eyo are not for celebrations of birthdays and other social engagements that celebrate people that are still alive. It is being used to celebrate the dead and ushering their spirits for a better continuous existence in the realm of the dead.

“It is for cleansing. The process that is involved takes a minimum of three months. The ritual rites and necessary procedures must be performed,” he added.

He also cautioned and called for the constitution of a special agency of the government that would be saddled with the responsibility of overseeing the culture and tradition of the people, adding that those that will be in charge of such agency must be people that have the full grasp of the task being given to them.

“The Lagos State Censor Board and the National Census Film Censor Board cannot be blamed much, because there is problem of not putting the right people in the right place. You cannot in any way put outsiders in charge of censoring the culture and tradition of a place they know little or nothing about, because such people would not know or even perceive any wrongdoing when such culture and tradition are desecrated.

“My advice to the film boards is that any movie that has to do with culture and tradition, the producers of such movies should be asked to bring letter of clearance from traditional bodies in charge of such culture or tradition, so that there won’t be any legal issue or problem like we are facing now, and which may adversely affect the success of the Nigerian movie industry,” The statement added.