Uproar as Mount Zion Remake of “Agbara Nla” Faces Accusations of Cultural Misappropriation by Yoruba People

The announcement that Mike Bamiloye’s Mount Zion Faith Ministries is set to release a cinematic remake of its 1993 classic, Agbara Nla: The Return, has sparked significant uproar . While many are excited about the nostalgia, a vocal section of the Yoruba public has accused the project of cultural misappropriation, arguing that it distorts and demeans their heritage .

The controversy stems from the original movie’s portrayal of Yoruba traditional religion and culture. Agbara Nla is a Christian evangelical film that depicts the clash between Christian faith and traditional Yoruba spiritual practices. Critics have long alleged that such movies are used as “tools of war” that malign the image of traditional practitioners and misappropriate sacred symbols for religious propaganda .

Academic papers have explored this tension, noting that while Mount Zion films use familiar Yoruba indigenous imagery, they often frame traditional religious practices as “darkness” and demonic . This has led to accusations that the films exploit Yoruba cultural materials to promote a Christian ideology, a claim that has resurfaced with the remake .

A cultural activist and performance artist, Chief Jeliil Atiku, previously voiced this frustration, stating that filmmakers cannot use Yoruba religious materials as props while attacking the faith. He said, “What the Christian filmmakers need to know is that Yoruba religion exists at the threshold of creation. The continual attack on its existence and the constant call for its erasure in their films and messages will always end in futile” .

The debate continues as the October 1 cinema release date approaches, reigniting a long-standing conflict over the portrayal of Yoruba culture in Nigerian cinema .