Soun Palace clarifies Ogbori Elemoso narrative, dismisses copyright claims
pannigeriannews
2 min read
The Palace of the Soun of Ogbomosoland has dismissed allegations credited to ace film maker and thespian, Chief Lere Paimo regarding the alleged remaking of the Ogbórí Elemoso film, describing the claims as misleading and capable of causing unnecessary public speculation.
In a statement issued by the Special Assistant on Media and Community Relations to the Soun, Rev’d Peter Olaleye, the Palace said it was compelled to respond in order to set the record straight, despite its reluctance to engage in public controversy, particularly involving Baba Lere Paimo, a respected Chief of the Palace and the Aare Arobajo of Ogbomosoland.
According to the statement, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Ghandi Afolabi Olaoye, Orumogege III, had earlier informed Chief Lere Paimo of plans to creatively remodel aspects of Ogbomoso history into a movie project designed to meet global storytelling standards, including platforms such as Netflix. The monarch reportedly invited Chief Lere Paimo to participate in the project as a character and contributor.
The Palace clarified that the financial offer made to him was strictly for his participation in the project as an actor and contributor, and not for the purchase of any copyright.
It further stated that investigations confirmed that the Ogbórí Elemoso story is not copyrighted and remains in the public domain.
“For the avoidance of doubt, Baba Lere Paimo was offered the sum of ₦7.5 million, an amount significantly higher than what was offered to other participants,” the statement said, adding that the offer was misconstrued as payment for copyright ownership.
The Palace also emphasized that no individual can claim exclusive ownership of the history of a town, noting that the movie currently in production bears a different title, a distinct storyline, and a separate plot structure, despite drawing inspiration from the history of Ogbomosoland.
“As the custodian of the people’s history and culture, His Imperial Majesty affirms that history is dynamic and not static,” the statement read. “The intention was never to distort or appropriate history, but to allow diverse perspectives to be represented within a creatively reimagined narrative.”
The Palace disclosed that Chief Paimo had previously shared his version of the Ogbórí Elemoso story during earlier engagements, but stressed that the forthcoming movie, scheduled for release next year, is not an exclusive retelling of any individual’s account.
The statement added that the issue does not constitute a legal dispute and would have been better resolved privately.
However, the Palace said the clarification became necessary to prevent the spread of misinformation and to reaffirm that both the history of Ogbomosoland and the movie script in question remain firmly within the public domain.
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