🔗 Share this article The Aftermath of the Nigerian Spectacular $25 M Museum and the Benin Bronzes Visitors and officials watched as activists invaded the West African Art Museum in the city of Benin Nigeria's impressive new West African Art Museum (Mowaa) has ended up in the center of local power politics during the time it was expected to – but failed – to begin operations to the public for the initial occasion. The Grand Vision The six-hectare campus sits in the center of Benin City, main city of the southern state of Edo – and features an excavation site and facilities planned by renowned dual heritage architect Sir David Adjaye, best known for the National Museum of African American History and Culture that began operations in Washington in 2016. It has been five years in the making – and is planned to showcase both the heritage and the modern times of cultural innovation in the region famous for the cultural artifacts, artworks stolen from the royal palace by British soldiers in the 1800s. Readiness and Potential It is remarkable – and ahead of the anticipated opening, Mowaa was active with staff determined to show it is a institution that can rival established art institutions in the Europe and America. Within preservation experts carefully revealed art pieces from protective packaging, inspecting each item and taking detailed notes before arranging them on display surfaces and plinths. Experts fine-tuned climate control systems. In the scientific facility, personnel set up equipment intended to preserve ancient objects. Financial Backing and Economic Vision The venture has been the brainchild of entrepreneur Phillip Ihenacho – now Mowaa's executive director. "I hope us to have a significant economic impact on area populations in the vicinity," he told media outlets, adding that he hoped to make the city "an arts hub." Mowaa, a non-profit national foundation, sees itself generating more than 30,000 work positions and adding above $80m annually to the area arts sector through partnerships and events. Financial Support and Government Issues It has required $25m to get here – funds raised from multiple donors, featuring the international partners, the UK museum and the regional authorities. But now the regional administration has revoked permission from beneath it – revoking the occupancy of the property on which the museum was built. An government communicator explained this was because in the initial documents it had called itself the Edo-named institution – and it had later removed "the regional name" from its title. Protests and Political Intervention This declaration came after demonstrations on the weekend, when activists invaded the complex demanding it be named the Royal Benin Museum. A rowdy group insulted foreign guests at the museum before the opening – forcing them to be quickly removed under official guard. Head of state Bola Tinubu has also stepped in to try and resolve the conflict, setting up a high-level committee to address the controversy. Administrative Challenges But why has this evolved into so divisive – and such a reputation problem? Much of it comes down to local power struggles at a area administrative level, as it was Edo's previous governor Godwin Obaseki – whose term in office ended the previous year – who was a key supporter of the initiative. And it seems the administration of the recently elected official, a close ally of the local traditional ruler, referred to as the Oba, may desire increased control in the venture. The protesters on the weekend, for example, were insisting that the facility be put under the supervision of Oba Ewuare II. The Cultural Artifacts Debate This highlights the contentious issue of the cultural artifacts, one of Africa's most renowned cultural treasures. Because although the facility does eventually begin operations, these objects will be conspicuously absent. They are metal, elephant tusk and timber sculptures that once decorated the royal palace of the Benin Kingdom before colonial troops stole them in 1897 during a military operation. Currently, many remain spread across museums in Europe and North America -- featuring the UK institution, European center and the American museum. Return Initiatives Their return has become one of the most contested debates in the international art community. About 150 have currently been returned – and further are expected to return. When proposals for the facility in Benin City were originally proposed in the pre-pandemic era, the movers and shakers on the national arts community expected it would become their ideal location – a modern facility to display them to the world. But the issues became confused two years ago after the national authorities stated that the royal leader would be the rightful owner of any returned bronzes – and the royal household pushed for a facility under the royal family's direct control, opposing the preferences of Obaseki. The traditional ruler at a event in recent years welcoming one of the looted Benin Bronzes Political Navigation This left Mowaa in a delicate position: expressing a definite position on return while remaining diplomatic on ownership – and emphasising its wider mission, which led to|c