Nigeria's remarkable new West African Art Museum (Mowaa) has found itself in the crosshairs of local power politics during the period it was supposed to – but did not manage – to begin operations to the general public for the first time.
The Ambitious Project
The 15-acre facility sits in the center of Benin City, administrative center of the southern state of Edo – and contains an archaeological dig and buildings planned by celebrated Ghanaian-British architect Sir David Adjaye, best known for the Washington African American Museum that opened in the US capital in 2016.
It has been 60 months in the creation – and is planned to showcase both the history and the current era of creativity in the region famous for the cultural artifacts, cultural objects taken from the city's royal palace by British troops in the 1800s.
Setup and Prospects
It is remarkable – and before the planned opening, Mowaa was active with staff committed to show it is a institution that can match renowned art institutions in the Europe and America.
Internally conservators carefully revealed artworks from protective packaging, inspecting each piece and taking detailed documentation before placing them on exhibition areas and stands.
Specialists calibrated climate control systems. In the materials science laboratory, personnel calibrated instruments designed to conserve historical artefacts.
Investment and Economic Plans
The project has been the concept of entrepreneur Phillip Ihenacho – currently Mowaa's executive director.
"I want us to have a substantial economic benefit on communities in the vicinity," he stated to journalists, noting that he hoped to make Benin City "an arts hub."
Mowaa, a not-for-profit local organization, sees itself generating more than 30,000 direct and indirect jobs and adding more than $80m each year to the area arts sector through partnerships and programming.
Investment and Administrative Problems
It has required $25m to get here – capital raised from various supporters, including the European governments, the British Museum and the local administration.
But at present the regional administration has revoked permission from under it – canceling the occupancy of the property on which the museum was built.
An government communicator stated this was because in the original paperwork it had called itself EMOWAA – and it had subsequently removed "the state identifier" from its designation.
Demonstrations and Government Action
This announcement followed protests on the weekend, when protesters stormed the complex insisting it be designated the Museum of the Benin Kingdom.
A rowdy crowd harassed foreign guests at the venue before the inauguration – requiring them to be escorted out under official guard.
National leader Bola Tinubu has also intervened to attempt to settle the dispute, setting up a presidential committee to address the controversy.
Governance Issues
But in what way has this evolved into so controversial – and such a PR disaster?
Much of it stems from local power struggles at a regional government level, as it was Edo's previous governor Godwin Obaseki – whose administration ended the previous year – who was a major backer of the project.
And it appears the leadership of the recently elected official, a key associate of the local traditional ruler, known as the royal figure, may want more of a stake in the initiative. The protesters on Sunday, for instance, were insisting that the facility be put under the authority of the current Oba.
The Cultural Artifacts Debate
This brings into focus the disputed topic of the Benin Bronzes, one of the continent's most celebrated historical legacy.
Because even if the institution does finally welcome visitors, these artifacts will be conspicuously absent.
They are metal, elephant tusk and timber carvings that once decorated the royal palace of the ancient kingdom before British soldiers took them in 1897 during a military operation.
Currently, numerous stay scattered across institutions in Western nations -- including the British Museum, Berlin's Humboldt Forum and the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Restitution Efforts
Their return has become one of the most debated discussions in the international art community. Approximately 150 have currently come back – and additional are scheduled to be repatriated.
When plans for the institution in Benin City were originally proposed in 2019, the influential figures on the national arts community hoped it would become their ideal location – a modern complex to show them off to the international community.
But the issues became confused recently after the national authorities announced that the Oba would be the legal custodian of repatriated artifacts – and the palace campaigned for a facility under the royal family's direct control, against the wishes of the ex-leader.
Political Navigation
This placed Mowaa in a difficult situation: maintaining a clear stance on return while staying tactful on ownership – and stressing its wider mission, which led to|c
