🔗 Share this article

The nation's remarkable new Museum of West African Art (Mowaa) has ended up in the center of regional political struggles during the time it was supposed to – but was unable – to open its doors to the public for the initial occasion.

The Major Initiative

The large-scale facility stands in the heart of Benin City, administrative center of the southern region of Edo – and features an historical dig and facilities planned by celebrated dual heritage architect Sir David Adjaye, most famous for the National Museum of African American History and Culture that began operations in Washington in 2016.

It has been half a decade in the creation – and is planned to celebrate both the heritage and the current era of artistic expression in the locale renowned for the historic artworks, historical pieces taken from the king's palace by British soldiers in the 19th Century.

Setup and Prospects

It is remarkable – and prior to the planned opening, Mowaa was active with staff resolved to demonstrate it is a place that can compete with well-known art institutions in the Western world.

Within preservation experts meticulously revealed cultural items from safety materials, checking each item and taking meticulous records before arranging them on display surfaces and plinths.

Specialists adjusted temperature regulation systems. In the materials science laboratory, officers set up devices meant to maintain ancient items.

Financial Backing and Economic Vision

The initiative has been the concept of entrepreneur Phillip Ihenacho – now Mowaa's executive director.

"I hope us to have a substantial economic impact on local residents in this region," he stated to journalists, adding that he wanted to make this urban center "a tourism center."

Mowaa, a charitable Nigerian institution, sees itself generating more than 30,000 direct and indirect jobs and contributing above $80m each year to the local cultural industry through alliances and activities.

Financial Support and Government Issues

It has required $25m to achieve this stage – funds raised from various supporters, featuring the international partners, the British Museum and the local administration.

But currently the local government has withdrawn support from below it – canceling the occupancy of the property on which the facility was constructed.

An Edo state spokesperson clarified this was because in the initial documents it had identified as Edo Museum of West African Art – and it had later removed "the state identifier" from its designation.

Demonstrations and Government Action

This declaration came after protests on recently, when protesters invaded the facility demanding it be named the Museum of the Benin Kingdom.

A rowdy group harassed international visitors at the facility prior to the opening – requiring them to be hurried away under police escort.

Head of state Bola Tinubu has even stepped in to try and resolve the conflict, establishing a special task force to do some damage control.

Political Complexities

But why has this become so controversial – and such a PR disaster?

The majority of it stems from internal conflicts at a regional government level, as it was Edo's previous governor Godwin Obaseki – whose administration finished last year – who was a key supporter of the museum.

And it seems the government of the new governor, a close ally of the regional monarch, called the traditional leader, may want greater involvement in the venture. The demonstrators on that day, for example, were insisting that the facility be put under the control of Oba Ewuare II.

The Historical Objects Discussion

This highlights the disputed topic of the cultural artifacts, one of Africa's most celebrated historical legacy.

Because though the institution does eventually welcome visitors, these bronzes will be clearly not present.

They are brass, elephant tusk and timber carvings that once decorated the king's residence of the Benin Kingdom before colonial troops stole them in the late nineteenth century during a colonial invasion.

Today, numerous continue to be scattered across museums in Western nations -- including the London museum, Berlin's Humboldt Forum and the American museum.

Repatriation Campaigns

Their repatriation has become one of the most contested discussions in the global art world. Roughly 150 have currently come back – and additional are scheduled to be repatriated.

When ideas for the facility in the urban center were originally proposed in 2019, the influential figures on the national arts community hoped it would become their natural home – a modern facility to exhibit them to the international community.

But the situation became complicated some time back after the national authorities announced that the royal leader would be the proper guardian of repatriated artifacts – and the monarch's court advocated for a museum under the royal family's direct control, against the wishes of the former governor.

Diplomatic Challenges

This placed Mowaa in a challenging circumstance: expressing a definite position on restitution while remaining diplomatic on guardianship – and stressing its wider mission, which led to|c