Joshua Bamiloye defends Mount Zion Films against claims of demonizing Yoruba culture

Gospel singer Joshua Bamiloye has defended Mount Zion Films, the faith-based film ministry founded by his father Mike Bamiloye, against accusations of demonizing Yoruba culture and spirituality. His comments, made on X, followed criticism from a user who alleged that Mount Zion films portray Yoruba spirituality as evil while promoting Christianity. This discussion arose after the announcement that "Agbara Nla," a popular Mount Zion film, would return to cinemas 34 years after its initial release. Bamiloye refuted the claims, stating that Mount Zion celebrates Yoruba culture, including its colors, language, proverbs, and royalty. He used the character Abejoye as an example, noting that the character maintained his Yoruba cultural identity while embracing Christianity. Bamiloye also clarified that the ministry frames its narratives as "Light vs Darkness," not "Yoruba spirituality vs foreign religion," and that darkness has no nationality. He further argued that films with traditional settings constitute less than 30% of Mount Zion's more than 200 productions, suggesting that critics base their arguments on a minority of their catalog. He urged critics to watch the full films before making judgments.