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Nigeria's impressive new Art Museum of West Africa (Mowaa) has found itself in the center of local power politics during the week it was supposed to – but failed – to open its doors to the general public for the very first time.

The Ambitious Project

The 15-acre complex is located in the heart of Benin City, administrative center of the southern state of Edo – and includes an archaeological dig and buildings designed by high-profile dual heritage architect Sir David Adjaye, most famous for the National Museum of African American History and Culture that opened in Washington in 2016.

It has been half a decade in the creation – and is designed to celebrate both the past and the present of artistic expression in the locale famous for the historic artworks, artworks looted from the royal palace by UK forces in the 19th Century.

Readiness and Potential

It is remarkable – and prior to the anticipated opening, Mowaa was buzzing with employees committed to show it is a venue that can compete with established art institutions in the Europe and America.

Inside art restorers meticulously unwrapped art pieces from safety materials, inspecting each item and taking meticulous documentation before positioning them on display surfaces and plinths.

Specialists calibrated environmental controls. In the research lab, personnel calibrated devices intended to maintain ancient artefacts.

Investment and Economic Plans

The initiative has been the idea of businessman Phillip Ihenacho – currently Mowaa's chief executive.

"I hope us to have a substantial financial effect on communities in the vicinity," he told journalists, adding that he wanted to make Benin City "a cultural destination."

Mowaa, a non-profit local organization, aims at generating more than 30,000 direct and indirect jobs and contributing above $80m each year to the area arts sector through partnerships and activities.

Financial Support and Government Issues

It has needed $25m to reach this point – funds collected from multiple donors, including the French and German governments, the UK museum and the Edo state government.

But at present the local government has pulled the rug from below it – revoking the use of the site on which the building was erected.

An Edo state spokesperson stated this was because in the original paperwork it had referred to itself as the Edo-named institution – and it had subsequently removed "the state identifier" from its name.

Unrest and Official Response

This announcement came after demonstrations on the weekend, when protesters invaded the campus insisting it be called the Museum of the Benin Kingdom.

A disruptive crowd harassed foreign guests at the museum prior to the launch – compelling them to be hurried away under police escort.

National leader Bola Tinubu has also intervened to attempt to settle the dispute, setting up a presidential committee to do some damage control.

Governance Issues

But in what way has this evolved into so controversial – and such a public relations crisis?

The majority of it results from local power struggles at a area administrative level, as it was the ex-administrator Godwin Obaseki – whose administration finished the previous year – who was a primary advocate of the museum.

And it seems the administration of the current leader, a strong supporter of the local traditional ruler, called the traditional leader, may want more of a stake in the initiative. The demonstrators on Sunday, for case, were calling for that the museum be put under the authority of the royal leader.

The Historical Objects Discussion

This highlights the contentious issue of the cultural artifacts, one of Africa's most renowned artistic heritage.

Because although the facility does ultimately open, these objects will be clearly not present.

They are brass, ivory and timber sculptures that once adorned the royal palace of the Benin Kingdom before colonial troops looted them in the late nineteenth century during a colonial invasion.

Nowadays, numerous continue to be spread across galleries in Western nations -- including the UK institution, Berlin's Humboldt Forum and the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Return Initiatives

Their repatriation has become one of the most contested conversations in the global art world. Approximately 150 have now been returned – and more are scheduled to be repatriated.

When plans for the facility in the urban center were first announced in 2019, the key players on the national arts community anticipated it would become their natural home – a advanced facility to display them to the world.

But the waters were muddied some time back after the central administration declared that the Oba would be the proper guardian of repatriated artifacts – and the royal household campaigned for a museum under the monarch's supervision, against the desires of the ex-leader.

Strategic Positioning

This placed Mowaa in a delicate position: maintaining a specific viewpoint on repatriation while remaining diplomatic on guardianship – and highlighting its broader vision, which led to|c