The announcement that the iconic gospel film Agbara Nla will return to cinemas more than three decades after its original release has sparked controversy. At the centre of the debate is gospel filmmaker Joshua Bamiloye, son of veteran evangelist and filmmaker Mike Bamiloye.
Critic Accuses Mount Zion of Cultural Warfare
Shortly after news of the film's return broke online, an X user identified as Ìfẹ́ṣọlá questioned the themes often portrayed in Mount Zion productions. He argued that the ministry has spent years depicting Yoruba spirituality as evil while promoting Christianity as the preferred alternative.
Reacting to the post, Joshua rejected the claims and accused critics of misunderstanding Mount Zion's message. According to him, the ministry has never sought to attack Yoruba culture.
"Here we go again, and yet you couldn't get through one paragraph without misrepresenting what Mount Zion actually does," he wrote.
Mount Zion Celebrates Yoruba Identity
Joshua explained that Mount Zion Productions regularly celebrates Yoruba identity through language, proverbs, traditional attire, royalty, and cultural values. "MZ doesn't demonize Yoruba culture. It celebrates it; the colors, the language, the proverbs, and the royalty," he stated.
He argued that there is a difference between cultural heritage and spiritual beliefs, insisting that the ministry's focus has always been on promoting its Christian convictions rather than attacking ethnic traditions.
Abejoye as an Example
To further support his argument, Joshua referenced one of Mount Zion's most popular characters, Abejoye. According to him, the character remained deeply connected to Yoruba culture even after embracing Christianity.
He explained: "Abejoye became a born-again Christian while still speaking deep Yoruba, bowing before his king, and dropping proverbs that'll make your grandfather nod. Nobody took his culture. The Gospel just took the throne in his heart."
Light Versus Darkness, Not Ethnic Conflict
Joshua also challenged the notion that Mount Zion portrays Yoruba spirituality as inferior to foreign religions. According to him, the ministry's films are built around spiritual themes rather than ethnic or cultural conflicts.
He wrote: "You framed this as 'Yoruba spirituality versus foreign religion.' We never did. We frame it as Light versus Darkness, and Darkness has no nationality."
He added that the ministry has addressed moral and spiritual issues across different settings, including urban centres, corporate environments, and rural communities.
Broader Catalogue Overlooked
Another point Joshua addressed was the claim that Mount Zion built its success primarily on stories involving traditional religion. He argued that critics often focus on a small fraction of the ministry's work while ignoring its broader catalogue.
According to him, Mount Zion has produced more than 200 films, with less than 30 per cent set within traditional spiritual contexts.
Background on Agbara Nla and Mike Bamiloye
Agbara Nla originally released in 1992 and became a landmark in Nigerian gospel cinema. The film's return to cinemas after 34 years has reignited discussions about the portrayal of African traditional religion in Christian media.
Earlier, Legit.ng reported that Mike Bamiloye cautioned internet users about their conduct on social media platforms. The veteran actor warned that believers will stand before the judgment throne to explain how they used their accounts. His teachings sparked diverse online reactions as some netizens noted how people use platforms to tear down religious leaders.
