Nigeria's stunning new Museum of West African Art (Mowaa) has found itself in the crosshairs of local power politics on the week it was supposed to - but failed - to open its doors to the public for the first time.
The six-hectare (15-acre) campus sits in the heart of Benin City, capital of the southern state of Edo - and includes an archaeological dig and buildings designed by high-profile British-Ghanaian architect Sir David Adjaye, best known for the National Museum of African American History and Culture that opened in Washington in 2016.
It has been five years in the making - and is envisioned to celebrate both the past and the present of creativity in the region famous for the Benin Bronzes, artworks looted from the city's royal palace by British soldiers in the 19th Century.
Though impressive, the planned opening has been overshadowed by political disputes, with the local government unexpectedly revoking land rights, claiming the museum's name change from Edo Museum of West African Art to simply Museum of West African Art was problematic. Demonstrators stormed the site demanding a return to the original name and recognition of the royal family's ties to the artifacts, illustrating the contentious relationship between cultural heritage and local politics.
Despite the setbacks, Mowaa's goal to create a vibrant ecosystem for contemporary African creativity continues, aiming to offer a platform for innovation across diverse art forms. As debates over the Benin Bronzes and their rightful home continue, the museum intends to carve out its identity as a space for modern artistic expression, not solely as a custodian of historical artifacts.
The six-hectare (15-acre) campus sits in the heart of Benin City, capital of the southern state of Edo - and includes an archaeological dig and buildings designed by high-profile British-Ghanaian architect Sir David Adjaye, best known for the National Museum of African American History and Culture that opened in Washington in 2016.
It has been five years in the making - and is envisioned to celebrate both the past and the present of creativity in the region famous for the Benin Bronzes, artworks looted from the city's royal palace by British soldiers in the 19th Century.
Though impressive, the planned opening has been overshadowed by political disputes, with the local government unexpectedly revoking land rights, claiming the museum's name change from Edo Museum of West African Art to simply Museum of West African Art was problematic. Demonstrators stormed the site demanding a return to the original name and recognition of the royal family's ties to the artifacts, illustrating the contentious relationship between cultural heritage and local politics.
Despite the setbacks, Mowaa's goal to create a vibrant ecosystem for contemporary African creativity continues, aiming to offer a platform for innovation across diverse art forms. As debates over the Benin Bronzes and their rightful home continue, the museum intends to carve out its identity as a space for modern artistic expression, not solely as a custodian of historical artifacts.
