Gangs of Lagos

Plot summary

Obalola, Gift, and Ify are three friends born and raised in Ìsàlẹ̀ Èkó, a community dominated by political, criminal, and gang violence, theft, and struggle of power. Obalola, as a child, sees his father - the former king of the community - tragically shot to death by Eyo masquerades. While on traffic, the three friends steals a bag from a woman, containing cash and international passport. The woman reports the incident to Alaye Bam Bam, a powerful street kingpin and influential political godfather in Ìsàlẹ̀ Èkó. After capturing Obalola, and seeing his brave response, he puts him and others into his work, corruption and theft.

Obalola’s bravery and street smarts catch the attention of Nino, a gang leader on the rise to becoming the next Eleniyan (a title for the foremost gang leader in Ìsàlẹ̀ Èkó). Nino, seeing potential in Obalola, takes him under his wing and becomes a foster father figure, offering a temporary escape from the abuse of Obalola’s hyper-religious mother. Nino’s home provides solace, and Obalola develops a crush on Teni, Nino’s neighbor and Kazeem’s daughter.

Tragedy strikes when Nino is brutally murdered, shattering Obalola’s hope for a better life. With Nino gone, Obalola and his friends are drawn into working for Kazeem, a greedy and ruthless gang leader deeply entrenched in Lagos politics. Kazeem presents himself as a father figure to Obalola, but his manipulative nature and criminal influence demand a steep price.

As the trio grows older, their circumstances worsen, and their paths diverge. Obalola becomes Kazeem’s trusted enforcer, motivated by a desire to provide for his family and avenge Nino’s death. Gift fully embraces gang life, finding power and identity in the chaos, while Ify clings to dreams of becoming a musician, though his loyalty to his friends keeps pulling him back into the underworld.

A pivotal mission orchestrated by Kazeem leads to a violent clash with rival gangs over territory and political control. Reluctantly, Ify joins the operation to support his friends. However, the mission goes wrong, resulting in a chaotic shootout where Ify is killed. His sudden and brutal death devastates Obalola and Gift, leaving them grappling with the senseless loss.

The death of Ify triggers further bloodshed in Isale Eko, as his mother, Mama Ify, demands vengeance. In the aftermath, Obalola discovers that Kazeem was responsible for Nino’s murder. leads a bloody gang war to seek revenge on Kazeem. Fueled by grief and a thirst for justice a bloody gang war erupted. Obalola confronts Kazeem in a climactic fight, ultimately killing him. This act of revenge brings Obalola’s journey full circle, as he confronts the cycle of violence that has defined his life and seeks a way to break free from it.

Production

Development

Gangs of Lagos is directed by Jadesola Osiberu, known for Isoken (2017), Sugar Rush (2019), and Brotherhood (2022). The film was co-produced by Kemi Lala Akindoju and produced under a three-year partnership between Amazon Prime Video and Osiberu's production company, Greoh Studios. Osiberu collaborated with Akindoju and K. I. Jegede on the screenplay, which drew on Lagos' urban setting and culture.

According to Jade Osiberu the creator of Gangs of Lagos the idea for the film came during the production of the TV series Gidi Up in Ìsàlẹ̀ Èkó, around ten years before the film's production. Osiberu stated that the movie was inspired by what she witnessed through the window of a building adjacent to where she was filming and saw a mother preparing dinner while shouting at her children. Osiberu stated that she used the experience to come up with the storyline and added that the contrast between the poverty level of the place and the fact that it is close to the commercial and financial district of Lagos inspired her to make the film. Osiberu said she developed the film to explore the lives of people growing up in Ìsàlẹ̀ Èkó, drawing inspiration from the area's social conditions and economic inequality. She stated that she wanted to tell a story about gangs that emphasized the human experiences of those born into that environment, rather than focusing solely on violence. In an interview with Al Jazeera, Osiberu cited influences such as Martin Scorsese and Spike Lee, whose gangster classics shaped her storytelling. She explained, “[I] always knew I wanted to tell a story about a child growing up in this world who is not able to get out".

Gangs of Lagos marked a milestone in Nigerian cinema as it became the first Amazon Original film from Africa.

Filming, production design and challenges

Principal photography for Gangs of Lagos started in 2021 and lasted for two months, from the 18th of June to the 18th of August. The majority of the movie was filmed in Isale Eko, a historic neighborhood of Lagos Island. The filming faced challenges during production. According to Osiberu, the hardest scene in the movie to make was the climax scene at the party since it involved problems such as blackouts, breakdowns of generators, problems with traffic, and organizing many extras. She described filmmaking in Lagos demands good logistical planning because of the unpredictability of the city. She also states that the whole point of this scene is to contradict all expectations through an ordinary Nigerian party ending up with a shooting. The film was shot in RED Digital Cinema DSMC2 MONSTRO 8K VV cameras.

The production design of Gangs of Lagos focused on depicting the urban environment of Lagos through attention to elements such as color palette, architecture, and street scenes. The cinematography, led by Olumuyiwa Oyedele, used camera movements intended to capture the activity of Lagos’s streets. The visual style reflects the city’s environment as presented in the film. During the production, the filmmakers faced challenges while shooting in some of the more sensitive areas of Lagos, particularly the ghettos. Chioma Akpotha, one of the lead actors in the film, revealed that the crew had to engage with local "area boys", a term commonly used in Nigeria to describe groups of young men who often control activities in certain urban areas, to ensure a smooth filming process.

Casting

The film employed local talents both in front of and behind the camera. Cast members, including Tobi Bakre, Adesua Etomi-Wellington, and Chike, brought their performances to life, supported by a production team capturing the city's essence. Chioma Chukwuka Akpotha 's performance in the movie was widely praised by everyone and she also won an AFRIFF award For it. In June 2021, Pulse NG reported that the shortlist had expanded to include Pasuma. During a movie interaction, Osiberu explained her decision to add Pasuma and Zlatan to the cast, saying, "Pasuma has a long history of acting. Since we shot in Isale Eko, who else could fit better? Pasuma is perfect for that world."

During the Daily Post Interview, Bakre talked about the preparation he went through before taking on the role of Obalola in the film. According to Bakre, to get into the right state before filming, he listened to emotional music, such as "Celia’s Song" by Tiwa Savage. which helped helped him connect with the character's emotions. "I wasn’t trying to fake it [my role]; I needed to genuinely feel the sadness and put myself in the character’s scenario."

Music

Tolu Obanro composed the score for the film, which was released by Greoh Studios. The opening musical cue received praise, with Native Magazine describing it as "spectacular." Reflecting on his creative process, Obanro stated, "I wanted to create a score that felt massive and huge." The soundtrack also features an additional song by Chike.

Release and distribution

it was screened at the 2022 Toronto International Film Festival on 11 September 2022. Gang of Lagos had a limited theatrical release on 7 April 2023, exclusively on Amazon Prime Video. It is one of the first Nigerian original films released directly on the platform as part of Amazon's investment in Nollywood. The film's release marked a step in the collaboration between Nigerian filmmakers and global streaming services, expanding the reach of Nollywood to international audiences.

Reception

Box office

Gangs of Lagos earned a total of ₦230 million in Nigeria. Within the first 20 days of its release in 2023, the film garnered 15,000 views.

Critical response

Afrocritik's Seyi Lasisi's 3-star review said the film "like Brotherhood, isn't fiction. It is a cinematic exploration of our lives as Nigerians. It spotlights the damage Nigerian societies and Nigerians are compelled to witness when the government is apathetic to developing and solving social issues". Shola-Adido Oladotun of Premium Times praised Gangs of Lagos, describing its Cinematography as "top-tier" and noting its effective use of real-life locations in Isale Eko. He also commended the casting and stunt work, as well as the film’s visual presentation. However, he criticised aspects of the writing and pacing, and suggested that the story would have benefited from a television series format to allow for deeper character development, particularly for supporting characters such as Kazeem. He gave the film 8/10 stars. Emma Vine of Ready Steady Cut described Gangs of Lagos as a "gritty, compelling crime drama" and praised its tone, cinematography, and camera work. She also commended the cast performances and highlighted the visual continuity between the adult actors and their younger counterparts as a notable strength that enhanced the film’s believability.

Johnny Loftus of Decider praised the performances of the cast, particularly highlighting Tobi Bakre, Adesua Etomi-Wellington, and Chike Ezekpeazu-Osebuka. He singled out Chike's portrayal of Ify, a character born into gang life despite his evident desire to pursue a different path, such as performing on stage as his alter ego, Panama. Liam Lacey of Original-Cin awarded the film a grade of B, noting that it is "at its most rewarding when it breaks away from the Scorsese-Coppola tradition to deliver sharp critiques of the Nigerian criminal-political complex."

Accolades

Gangs of Lagos garnered multiple nominations and accolades, including recognition as Best Nigerian Film and Best Visual Effects at the 2023 African Movie Academy Awards. Adesua Etomi-Wellington won the award for Best Actress in a Leading Role. Chioma Chukwuka won the Africa International Film Festival Award for her performance in the movie. In total, the film received five nominations and won four awards, notably for Best Visual Effects and Best Young/Promising Actor, awarded to Maleek Sanni.

Controversy

The portrayal of the Eyo masquerade in the film became very controversial as well. The majority of people on social media believe that the filmmakers were being disrespectful towards the cultural tradition that is embodied by these masquerades. One group of Lagosians threatened a lawsuit in response, and another followed through and took the matter to court.

Reno Omokri criticized the film as "defamatory," in a post on Twitter tweeting that its portrayal undermines Nigeria's image, stating, "De-marketing your country through movies is like punching holes in a ship on which you are a passenger. Who loses?"

Amongst those who also condemned the film on these grounds were the Lagos State government, the Kosoko royal family of Lagos, Chief Adebola Dosunmu of the Dosunmu royal family, and Nollywood veteran Prince Jide Kosoko acting in a private capacity. The National Film and Video Censors Board, Nigeria's censor, also weighed in on the matter; its head explained that it was not empowered to regulate films and television shows shown on streaming platforms, though a legal amendment to give it that power was currently being considered by the National Assembly.

In April 2023, the Lagos State Government together with some traditional rulers raised concerns over the film, due to its negative depiction of the cultural heritage of the State. The government described the movie as "unprofessional and misleading," because it portrayed the culture of Lagos in an offensive way. Speaking on this matter, Uzamat Akinbile-Yussuf, Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture of Lagos State, indicated that the movie was offensive to the history and culture of Lagos as well as an unjust depiction of Lagosians as barbarians.

Similarly, the Oba of Lagos, Rilwan Aremu Akiolu, labeled the film defamatory and sacrilegious, criticizing its depiction of the Eyo as violent gangs involved in murders and terrorizing citizens. He demanded that Amazon Web Services, Greoh Studios, and the film's producers remove all representations of the Eyo from the movie.

Amazon response

Amazon Web Services Nigeria, a subsidiary of Amazon Inc. and the founder of Prime Video Nigeria, stated in response to the ₦10 billion fine imposed on its production by The Isale Eko Descendants’ Union. Amazon asserted that its film, Gangs of Lagos, does not harm any individual or group. The company also challenged the regulatory authority of the Lagos State Government in this matter.