Following the burial rites of Moji Olaiya, the recording and production of her burial ceremony by Bayowa Films is still generating unfathomable controversy.
The Ibadan Film Circle, an online stakeholders’ forum, articulated disgust at the decision of the company founded by controversial film marketer, Gbenga Adewusi, to produce it.
Thespians and producers like Niyi Akanni, Segun Arinze, Yinka Ogundaisi, Deji Adenuga, Remi Raji and Tunde Olaoye are part of the coalition.
Adewusi defending himself via a statement said, there was no hidden motive or commercial reason behind his effort.
According to a statement signed by Akanni, an award-winning movie director, who is also the IFC’s administrator, the coalition noted that it was disturbed by the action of Adewusi, who, according to the IFC, had allegedly produced the work without authorization by the Olaiya family and made it into VCDs in a manner that suggested it was for sale.
“We believe that, unless otherwise determined by her immediate family, the video of Ms. Olaiya’s burial is legally the private property of her estate. It is absolutely distasteful and brutally wicked for an enterprise to engage in acts which tend to show it as reaping from the sweat, sorrow and tears of others,” the IFC said.
In his swift reaction on Tuesday, Adewusi upheld a position he had earlier articulated that he was not out to make money off the recording.
In the statement directed at the forum, he said, “I’m Mayor Bayowa Gbenga Adewusi, chairman, Bayowa Films and YorubaSwagaTV. I’m just reading your malicious press release about me and my company. I’m innocent of your false accusations. If you don’t know, go and ask the Moji Olaiya Burial Committee. I contributed a lot to the farewell service of songs and tribute night and none of you bad belle people attended. I never released or plan to release any recording on VCD or DVD. My recording was showing on my Yoruba Swaga Television Channel 310 on Consat and YouTube.”gbenga adewu
