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Nigeria's impressive new Art Museum of West Africa (Mowaa) has ended up in the middle of local power politics during the time it was supposed to – but did not manage – to welcome visitors to the general public for the first time.

The Major Initiative

The six-hectare campus sits in the center of Benin's urban center, capital of the southern region of Edo – and includes an historical dig and structures designed by high-profile British-Ghanaian architect Sir David Adjaye, best known for the Washington African American Museum that began operations in the US capital in 2016.

It has been 60 months in the making – and is planned to honor both the past and the current era of creativity in the area known for the cultural artifacts, historical pieces looted from the royal palace by British troops in the 19th Century.

Preparation and Promise

It is remarkable – and prior to the anticipated opening, Mowaa was active with staff committed to demonstrate it is a venue that can match well-known cultural centers in the West.

Within preservation experts precisely unwrapped cultural items from protective packaging, inspecting each artifact and taking thorough documentation before arranging them on display surfaces and plinths.

Experts calibrated climate control systems. In the materials science laboratory, staff members calibrated equipment meant to preserve centuries-old objects.

Investment and Economic Plans

The initiative has been the concept of investor Phillip Ihenacho – currently Mowaa's managing director.

"I hope us to have a substantial economic impact on communities in the vicinity," he explained to media outlets, mentioning that he hoped to make the city "an arts hub."

Mowaa, a non-profit local organization, envisions itself generating in excess of 30,000 employment opportunities and contributing over $80m per year to the area arts sector through partnerships and activities.

Financial Support and Government Issues

It has taken $25m to achieve this stage – money gathered from multiple supporters, such as the European governments, the London institution and the Edo state government.

But at present the regional administration has withdrawn support from beneath it – canceling the occupancy of the property on which the facility was constructed.

An Edo state spokesperson stated this was because in the early agreements it had referred to itself as Edo Museum of West African Art – and it had later eliminated "the regional name" from its name.

Unrest and Official Response

This statement followed protests on the weekend, when people entered the campus demanding it be designated the Museum of the Benin Kingdom.

A rowdy crowd harassed overseas dignitaries at the museum prior to the opening – compelling them to be escorted out under official guard.

National leader Bola Tinubu has even stepped in to work to address the dispute, creating a special task force to address the controversy.

Governance Issues

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

Much of it results from local power struggles at a local state level, as it was Edo's previous governor Godwin Obaseki – whose administration finished the previous year – who was a primary advocate of the project.

And it looks like the administration of the current leader, a close ally of the local traditional ruler, referred to as the royal figure, may seek increased control in the venture. The protesters on the weekend, for example, were insisting that the institution be placed under the authority of the royal leader.

The Benin Bronzes Controversy

This brings into focus the disputed topic of the Benin Bronzes, one of Africa's most renowned historical legacy.

Because though the institution does finally welcome visitors, these artifacts will be conspicuously absent.

They are metal, elephant tusk and timber carvings that once decorated the king's residence of the ancient kingdom before colonial troops looted them in 1897 during a punitive expedition.

Nowadays, many remain distributed across museums in Europe and North America -- such as the UK institution, Berlin's Humboldt Forum and the New York institution.

Return Initiatives

Their return has become one of the most contested conversations in the worldwide cultural sector. About 150 have presently come back – and more are expected to return.

When ideas for the museum in the city were originally proposed in 2019, the movers and shakers on the country's cultural sector expected it would become their natural home – a modern complex to show them off to the global audience.

But the waters were muddied some time back after the federal government stated that the Oba would be the legal custodian of any returned bronzes – and the royal household campaigned for a museum under the monarch's supervision, opposing the preferences of the former governor.

Diplomatic Challenges

This left Mowaa in a difficult situation: maintaining a definite position on return while remaining diplomatic on ownership – and stressing its larger purpose, which led to|c