Cast:
Tobi Bakare, Adesua Etomi-Wellington, Chike Osebuka, Chioma Chukwuka, Olarotimi Fakunle, Bimbo Ademoye, Iyabo Ojo, Zlatan, Debo “Mr Maraconi” Adedayo, Yhemolee, Pasuma, Toyin Abraham, Tayo Faniran, Damilola Ogunsi, and Funke Williams.
Movie Title: Gangs of Lagos
Release Date: 7th April 2023
Director: Jade Osiberu
Duration: 02:04:37
The movie titled “Gangs of Lagos” by Jade Osiberu conceptualized the concept of power and how the required components in acquiring power may require war, betrayal, suspense and other thematic contrast embedded in the movie.
The producer of the movie implored great dramatic devices and 21st century theatrical and cinematic variables which par the movie with other great Nollywood blockbusters to put the Nigeria Nollywood movie industry on the world map of great scenery just like the American’s Hollywood and the Indians Bollywood.
The usage of phenomenal equipment, HD cameras, excellent camera angles, great depth cinematography, close to reality sounds and visual effects have made the world realize that without any second doubt the Nigeria movie industry is really progressing.
From the production of His Excellency, King of Boys, Omo Ghetto the Saga, Brotherhood, Ponzi, Anikulapo, King of Thieves, The King’s Horseman, The Ghost and the Touts, Ayinla, Ijakumo, The Bling Lagosians and many other great movies that have made waves in the theater industry, Osiberu have raised the bar.
Osiberu in this movie dramatized a two sided nature of growth in a similar society that is decided by both fate and destiny. She self contrasts the fact that “Man is an architect of his own fate through her actions, and inactions. She also argues that Fate is predestined and no one have the power over what their life becomes as it has been destined by God.
She narrates certain variables that can shape life outcomes and what a child can grow up to be, which include societal inequalities, poverty, social-economic imbalances, exposures and most importantly the location where someone grows.
Summarizing the Plot.
The movie peaked a small boy, Obalola Akande (played by one of the Ikorodu boys, later by Tobi Bakre) who grow up in the busy, volatile and redlight area of Isale Eko taking after the destiny of his father who was maimed by fellow power contenders.
It can be seen in the pre-scenes of the movie, how an assassin (later known to be Kazeem) disguised in the Eyo cultural attire to kill Oba while Obalola was still a kid. Although Obalola’s mother, (Iyabo Ojo) made all attempts to ensure Obalola doesn’t join bad gangs. She could not change the fate of the character who is destined to become a street king.
Obalola with his two jolly friends, Ebun (Etomi Adesua), and Ify (Chike) were seen as growing peers that made livelihood through pickpocketing, stealing and other heinous means.
Fast down the line, Obalola met his new father, Nino who actually meant well for him but was killed by fellow power contenders in cold blood. The revenge fight of Obalola however gets an add on asking for the killer of his father and his adopted father.
In and out, the story narrates the presence of godfatherism where Olorogun (Yinka Quadri) and Alaye Bambam were indirectly controlling the street with the help of their boys.
The story scenes how Kazeem grows up to be a warlord on his own after getting rid of his fellow contenders, using Obalola and other boys as messengers for his operations.
The story runs down to when Ify (Chike) was killed and Obalola was to find his path and got a clear picture of where his destiny ends and how betrayal met loyalty.
He began his road to avenge the death of his loved ones with support from Ebun (Adesua), Ekun (Zlatan) and other allies who later emerged victorious by killing Kazeem, Olorogun, and Alaga Bambam in a burial ceremony for London (Pasuma).
Jade carefully selected the movie casts using the power of fame to drive in more traffic to the movie. The presence of Wasiu alabi Pasuma, Yhemo Lee, Zlatan, Chike who are famous artists gave the movie an astonishing greatness.
Strengths
If Osiberu gets no other accolade, applauding her on the usage of sound and visual effects is highly recommended. She invested a lot in the imagery of terror. Using close to reality bloodshed, makeup, costume of brutality, injuries and body tear.
The sound effects were so accurate, the gunshot effects were so perfect. The camera angles were so perfect. The execution of deeds goes with the 21st century theatrical effect, the stunts and special moves are so great.
Although some dialogue doesn’t seem good, Language use is great to some extent and the fact that the movie portrays reality made it so note-taking.
Weaknesses
The movie was flawed by the inability to focus on the societal reality in their storylines. Isale Eko represents a flash point community and in every community where violence is the order of the day, there is a need to maintain peace and order.
Not a single police officer featured in this movie. Not even a foiled attempt to arrest thugs or raid. The police were only mentioned in the introductory scenes of the movie when Eniola Badmus had her bag snatched and Alaye Bambam queried why she had to report to the police. No one was seen lodging complaints to the police and this actually flawed the concept of societal reality as portrayed in the movie.
The movie lacked sequential continuity, the story lines are not running into one another. Although the story of Obalola was featured but no one knows where Ify and Ebun came from until “terrible” (black Kamoru) mentioned it while confessing that their fathers who were friends to Obalola’s father were also maimed by Kazeem Eleniyan in Olorogun’s bid to be the Chief Mafia of Isale Eko.
Another case is where Fuji Maestro, King Wasiu Alabi Pasuma acted 2 scenes in the beginning of the movie and was not later featured until 16 years after there was chaos between his team and the Kazeem’s team. It wasn’t sequential, making it look like some scenes were removed from the movie.
For someone who is not well conversant about transitioning in movies, the transition of the ikorodu boy to Tobi Bakre was not well scripted.
Some of the scenes were unnecessarily dragged out, the film gave less room to character’s (sequential) development. The movies should have had more scenes, it’s better if it is produced in series, so as to give room for the development of other characters just like Ebun, Ify and Obalola
Looking at the socio-cultural value of this great movie, Osiberu made a very big mistake by using the Eyo Masquerade as a symbol of evil. Recall that in the introductory part of the movie, an assassin later known to be Kazeem disguised as an Eyo Masquerade to kill Obalola’s father.
Truly, Eyo is a cultural practice in Isale Eko, but it is one of the cultural values which the people of Lagos state hold in high esteem. Using the Eyo for the shooting scene is inappropriate. It is a mockery to Africa and Yoruba cultural practice. Movies should educate us and encourage us about our ethnic practices and values and not rubbish them.
Moreover, the movie’s storylines looked like a repeated concept. Many who have watched the movie ‘King of Boys’ will see it as a repetition although one cannot shy away from the fact that the producer impolore more effort and improvement to make the movie watch-worthy.
Characters
Tobi Bakre (Obalola) did his role excellently, Adesua Etomi (Ebun) has maintained a track record of performing well in featured movies. Popular Hiphop artiste, Chike (Ify) did excellently better than expected. Chioma Chukwuka (Ify’s mother) is a very great actress, her dialogue in the funeral rites for her dead son is so touching. It’s very close to the reality of a grieving mother.
Pasuma (London) is great and would have been better if he featured in more scenes. Black Kamoru (Terrible) tried and his rugged face made his role well played. Zlatan Ibile would be better for a cool actor, a comparative analysis with Reminisce’s role in King of Boys made reminisce and Illbliss the best actor in the hiphop industry so far.
Leaving these all aside, Gangs of Lagos is one of a kind in the growing Nollywood movie industry. Stream, Watch and get your own view of it.
Kehinde Ayanboade is a Multimedia Journalist. He loves to write on entertainment, politics,African Culture, folklore mythology and Folktale narrations. [email protected]
