Nigeria’s $25 million MOWAA museum opening delayed

The much-anticipated opening of Nigeria’s $25 million Museum of West African Arts (MOWAA) in Benin City has been postponed indefinitely following violent protests that underscore deep-seated tensions over the Benin Bronzes and cultural ownership in Edo State.

On Sunday, around 20 men, some wielding wooden bats, stormed the museum’s courtyard during a private preview event, forcing diplomats, donors and guests to seek shelter indoors.

The disruption, which lasted about 30 minutes, prompted MOWAA organizers to suspend all preview activities scheduled for the week, including a Tuesday inauguration ceremony. “If you were planning on travelling to Benin City for the MOWAA preview week, please suspend your travel plans,” the museum said in a statement on Instagram, urging safety amid the unrest.

The incident follows days of escalating demonstrations. On Wednesday, over 100 protesters gathered outside the Edo State legislature, chanting against the museum’s launch and decrying it as an affront to local traditions.

Placards read “MOWAA Steals Our Heritage” and “Respect the Oba,” highlighting grievances rooted in the project’s origins five years ago. What began as a beacon for West African art has become a flashpoint in Nigeria’s cultural wars.

A Vision for West African Heritage

Nigeria’s $25 million MOWAA museum opening delayed

Conceived in 2020, MOWAA aims to celebrate and preserve West Africa’s rich artistic legacy through exhibition galleries, archives, artist residencies and educational programs. Designed by acclaimed British-Ghanaian architect David Adjaye—known for projects like the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture—the 25,000-square-meter complex sits on a 105-hectare site in Benin City, the historic heart of the ancient Kingdom of Benin.

Funded at approximately $25 million (about €21.6 million), the project has drawn global backing. European nations including Germany, France and Denmark have contributed, alongside U.S.-based institutions like the British Museum, the Getty Foundation and the Ford Foundation.

Edo State’s former governor, Godwin Obaseki, allocated 3.8 billion naira ($2.6 million) from state coffers, viewing it as an economic catalyst for tourism and creative industries.

Proponents argue MOWAA could transform Edo into a premier art destination, rivaling Lagos or global hubs like London’s Tate Modern. “This is not just a building; it’s a bridge to our shared history,” Adjaye said in a recent interview, emphasizing its role in fostering pan-African dialogue.

The Shadow of the Benin Bronzes

At the controversy’s core are the Benin Bronzes—thousands of exquisite brass plaques, sculptures and ivory carvings looted by British forces during the 1897 punitive expedition against the Kingdom of Benin. These artifacts, symbols of royal power and artistry, were dispersed to museums worldwide, fueling decades-long repatriation campaigns.

In 2023, former President Muhammadu Buhari decreed that the bronzes belong to Oba Ewuare II, the current custodian of the Benin throne—a non-sovereign monarchy unrelated to the neighboring Republic of Benin.

This ruling mandates that returned items go directly to the Oba, not state institutions.

MOWAA’s initial pitch included housing these treasures, a plan swiftly abandoned amid backlash. Since then, repatriations have accelerated: Germany returned 22 bronzes in 2022, the U.S. followed with dozens more, and in June 2025, the Netherlands handed over 119 pieces straight to the Oba’s palace.

Yet none are publicly displayed, as the Oba envisions his own dedicated museum.

Critics, including palace loyalists, accuse MOWAA of overreach—a “neo-colonial ploy” to sideline the monarchy and centralize artifacts under state control.

Protesters on Sunday echoed this, with one shouting, “The bronzes are the Oba’s blood; MOWAA wants to bleed us dry,” according to eyewitness accounts.

Official Responses and Path Forward

Nigeria’s Culture Minister Hannatu Musa Musawa swiftly condemned the violence. “The reported disruption at MOWAA not only endangers a treasured cultural asset but also threatens the peaceful environment necessary for cultural exchange and the preservation of our artistic patrimony,” she posted on Instagram late Sunday.

Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo, elected in 2023 on promises of heritage protection, has called for dialogue. In a statement, he affirmed support for MOWAA while pledging consultations with the Oba to resolve disputes. International donors, too, expressed concern; a Getty spokesperson told Reuters the foundation remains committed but monitors the “fluid situation.”

As of Monday, no arrests have been reported from the courtyard breach, though police have bolstered security around the site. MOWAA’s team is rescheduling events, potentially for early 2026, but the delay raises questions about Nigeria’s ability to navigate its colonial legacies.

For now, the museum stands as a poignant reminder: In reclaiming the past, the present can prove fiercely contested. With global eyes on Africa’s cultural renaissance, MOWAA’s fate may hinge on bridging divides rather than building walls.