The Consequences of Nigeria's Stunning $25 M Art Center and the Benin Bronzes

The nation's impressive new Museum of West African Art (Mowaa) has ended up in the middle of regional political struggles during the time it was expected to – but was unable – to welcome visitors to the public for the very first time.

The Ambitious Project

The six-hectare campus stands in the core of the Edo state capital, administrative center of the southern state of Edo – and contains an excavation site and facilities created by celebrated Ghanaian-British architect Sir David Adjaye, particularly noted for the Smithsonian African American Museum that was inaugurated in Washington in 2016.

It has been 60 months in the creation – and is designed to showcase both the history and the modern times of artistic expression in the region renowned for the historic artworks, historical pieces taken from the city's royal palace by British soldiers in the 19th Century.

Setup and Prospects

It is remarkable – and ahead of the scheduled opening, Mowaa was buzzing with employees resolved to show it is a venue that can compete with renowned cultural centers in the Western world.

Within conservators precisely opened artworks from protective packaging, checking each item and taking detailed notes before placing them on walls and stands.

Technicians fine-tuned climate control systems. In the research lab, staff members set up equipment intended to maintain ancient objects.

Financial Backing and Economic Vision

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

"I hope us to have a substantial economic benefit on communities in this region," he explained to the press, mentioning that he hoped to make the city "a tourism center."

Mowaa, a charitable Nigerian institution, envisions itself creating in excess of 30,000 employment opportunities and adding above $80m each year to the area arts sector through alliances and activities.

Financial Support and Government Issues

It has taken $25m to achieve this stage – capital collected from multiple supporters, including the European governments, the London institution and the regional authorities.

But currently the local government has pulled the rug from under it – canceling the occupancy of the land on which the museum was built.

An official representative explained this was because in the initial documents it had referred to itself as EMOWAA – and it had subsequently eliminated "the regional name" from its designation.

Demonstrations and Government Action

This announcement was preceded by rallies on recently, when people invaded the facility demanding it be designated the Royal Benin Museum.

A disruptive crowd harassed international visitors at the venue ahead of the opening – requiring them to be quickly removed under official guard.

Head of state Bola Tinubu has even become involved to try and resolve the conflict, setting up a special task force to manage the situation.

Political Complexities

But how has this evolved into so divisive – and such a public relations crisis?

The majority of it stems from internecine rivalries at a area administrative level, as it was the former state leader Godwin Obaseki – whose governance ended the previous year – who was a key supporter of the initiative.

And it seems the government of the current leader, a strong supporter of the regional monarch, known as the traditional leader, may want increased control in the venture. The activists on the weekend, for example, were insisting that the institution be put under the control of the current Oba.

The Cultural Artifacts Debate

This highlights the controversial matter of the Benin Bronzes, one of the continent's most celebrated cultural treasures.

Because although the facility does finally begin operations, these bronzes will be noticeably missing.

They are brass, ivory and timber sculptures that once embellished the king's residence of the Benin Kingdom before British soldiers took them in 1897 during a military operation.

Currently, many continue to be scattered across institutions in the West -- featuring the UK institution, European center and the New York institution.

Repatriation Campaigns

Their homecoming has become one of the most contested conversations in the international art community. Roughly 150 have now come back – and more are scheduled to be repatriated.

When ideas for the facility in Benin City were first announced in 2019, the key players on the national arts community hoped it would become their natural home – a modern campus to display them to the global audience.

But the waters were muddied recently after the central administration stated that the traditional ruler would be the legal custodian of repatriated artifacts – and the royal household advocated for a institution under the royal family's direct control, against the desires of Obaseki.

Strategic Positioning

This left Mowaa in a delicate position: asserting a clear stance on repatriation while staying tactful on ownership – and stressing its larger purpose, which led to|c