The official launch and preview weekend of the highly anticipated Museum of Western African Art (MoWAA) in Benin City, Nigeria, was abruptly halted on Sunday after a group of protestors broke into the organisation’s main building.
More than 250 invited guests—including donors, diplomats, national cultural agency heads and programme partners—had gathered for the official opening of the museum, which has cost an estimated $25m (£19m) so far. They were scheduled to experience a cultural programme featuring Nigeria Imaginary: Homecoming, an expanded presentation of the Nigerian Pavilion at the 2024 Venice Biennale. The exhibition brings together 11 artists, including Yinka Shonibare CBE RA, Toyin Ojih Odutola, Ndidi Dike, Tunji Adeniyi-Jones and Precious Okoyomon, inviting audiences to imagine Nigeria as a constellation of histories, futures and creative possibilities.
The programme also included artist talks and lectures, with expected speakers including Okoyomon and the Nigerian writer Ben Okri.
Late in the morning, after the first wave of guests had arrived at the venue, a crowd of mostly male protestors wearing red hats appeared at the gate. They shouted that the launch would not continue, claiming “this place is under investigation”. They blocked access to arriving guests while shouting accusations about Godwin Obaseki, the former governor of Edo State, and the construction of MOWAA.
At around noon, once attendees had settled inside the auditorium for the opening address, the protestors forced their way into the main building and hurled threats at security and staff who attempted to restrain them. Guests were escorted to a room adjacent to the auditorium while members of MOWAA’s team worked to calm the protestors. The remaining events were then cancelled indefinitely.
The specific motivations and identities the protestors remain unclear. Rumours circulated that they were sent by the Oba of Benin, whose displeasure reportedly stems from issues around funding as well as the restitution and safekeeping of the Benin Bronzes. MOWAA was originally expected to house a collection of Benin Bronzes, objects looted by the British from the Kingdom of Benin in 1897. However, a dispute between political factions has meant that none of these objects have been transferred to the site.
Following the protest, MOWAA released a statement in which it said that despite the fact Obaseki made an early donation to its construction, it is “an independent non-profit institution in which the former governor [now] has no interest, financial or otherwise”.
Philip Ihenacho, MOWAA’s director and executive chairman tells The Art Newspaper: “We have been caught up in a complex local situation. There are misperceptions about what we are and what we are not. Yes, we started during the discussions of restitution of Benin Bronzes, but fairly quickly afterwards, from 2021 onwards, we have tried to make it clear that we are not a receptacle for the Benin Bronzes. We do not have an entitlement to Benin Bronzes, and we are not trying to compete with other museums established in Benin. Our strong belief is that Benin City needs multiple points of interest from multiple museums.”
Ore Disu, the director of MOWAA Institute, says: “It’s been an honour to demonstrate with my team that we can provide conservation and exhibition practice at a global standard. It was unfortunate that during the proceedings we had members of the local community who have been misinformed about our work. It’s incredibly important that we create spaces for dialogue and that members of the community see this as a place where they have access and where they are represented.”
No new opening date has been confirmed for the museum at the time of writing.
