Coalition Tackles Isime Over New Film, Seeks Ban

A multi-stakeholder peace advocacy group, Coalition for Global Peace (CGP) has tackled Nancy Isime over her new film where Islamic modes of dressing for women (hijab and Niqab), were adorned by characters in a robbery scene.

CGP described such portrayal of Muslim women and their religious symbols as distasteful and condemnable“. It equally appealed for a ban on the movie.

In a statement signed by its Lead Facilitator, Tajudeen Alabede, CGP said its attention was drawn to the snippets of the movie posted on Instagram by Isime.

Expectedly, the insensitive Instagram post stirred the hornet’s nest as the public space has witnessed a deluge of reactions from Muslims and other critical stakeholders.

The explanation offered by Ms Bolanle Ayo, one of the movie’s producers, that “this is just a disguise costume for characterisation” is a lame afterthought.

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The Coalition is miffed by the display of a lack of social awareness about the peculiar nature of Nigeria’s cultural diversity by Ms Isime and the movie’s producers.

Besides, their insensitivity betrayed a gross disrespect for their diverse audiences, many of whom may be Muslim women in hijab and niqab. Or was their action a deliberate attempt to court controversy and gain a moment of infamy that may echo into eternity?

Whatever may be the motivation, we wish to remind Ms Isime and the producers of the movie that film is a powerful, double-edged cultural tool, a misuse of which may precipitate unintended negative consequences. For professionals in the culture sector, a special attention to cultural awareness and self-regulation is imperative“.

The Coalition urged Isime and, indeed, all those associated with the movie to tender a public apology to Muslims and retract all materials related to the offensive content from the internet. It however appealed to the National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB), to place a ban on the movie until the aspects complained about are removed.