'Gangs Of Lagos': How Area Boys Were Settled For Movie Shoot — Chioma Akpotha

Nollywood veteran Chioma Akpotha has disclosed that the producer of the blockbuster film Gangs of Lagos had to settle Area Boys living in Isale Eko, Lagos so they could successfully shoot it.

Since its release, Jade Osiberu's latest movie has continued to spark conversations, with most lauding the filmmaker for her storytelling and this film's visuals.

Akpotha who portrays one of the supporting characters shared in a recent interview that there was an initial pushback from residents of Isale Eko when the shoot was about to begin.

“[Filming in the ghetto] Wasn’t all fun. Initially, there was a pushback. They [locals] were like ‘No, you guys can’t do this. Nobody is going to come here.

“Then the other camps said ‘This is our land’. They were like show us some love. You know what it means. 

“Afterwards, because we filmed for a little over 50 days. You know when you see someone constantly for day-to-day, two weeks, three weeks.

“So, we became like friends and then family to have them [locals] play some sort of roles in the film. They were involved.

Chioma Akpotha at GANGS OF LAGOS Premiere

“It gave them so much joy and they did it with all of their hearts. Even though they were compensated, they wanted to do it out of love”, the actress said.

Also speaking in the same interview on The Corner Shop Network, Akpotha's co-star Adesua Etomi-Wellington dished: “I have said this in multiple interviews that representation matters.

“And I like the fact that we are seeing more and more films that have women in strong roles.

“Because I said before, the film has the potential to shape minds, especially the mind of young people.

Adesua Etomi-Wellington

“And I love that young girls got to see women in powerful positions.

“And the fact that I got to play a character like that was so important to me because a woman is not only one thing.

“I love that we saw Gift’s emotions, I love that we saw her sexy, tomboyish. I love that we saw her fighting.

“There are so many things about a woman and that is one of the things that really excited playing this character.

“And at that time, I was breastfeeding my son exclusively.”

On his part, Gangs of Lagos lead star Tobi Bakre revealed that those living in the streets of Isale Eko told the film's crew that the movie portrays the true events in the area.