The highly anticipated opening of a major new cultural institution in Nigeria, the Museum of West African Art (MOWAA) in Benin City, has been abruptly postponed following a disruptive protest that saw demonstrators storm the facility.
Pre-Opening Event Disrupted by Force
The museum was preparing for its official public opening on Tuesday when a pre-opening event for donors and industry professionals was held on Sunday. The gathering was thrown into chaos when approximately twenty men, some armed with wooden bats, forcefully entered the museum courtyard. This aggressive action forced guests to seek refuge inside the building for their safety.
According to AFP reporters on the scene, the group caused minor damage within the courtyard. Phillip Ihenacho, the Nigerian businessman who launched MOWAA five years ago, provided a detailed account. "Protesters entered and began vandalising part of the reception pavilion, where we receive visitors, then they stormed inside the front section, where the exhibition area is located," Ihenacho stated. After a tense standoff that lasted around two hours, the guests were eventually escorted to safety via buses to a nearby hotel.
Roots of the Conflict and Political Tensions
The museum project has become a focal point of significant tension between political and traditional authorities in Edo State. The facility was initiated with the support of the state's former governor but has since become a subject of contention with the current administration. The successor governor is a known ally of the city's traditional ruler, Oba Ewuare II, who reportedly believes he should be the one in charge of the museum.
This dispute is set against the backdrop of Benin's long-standing and emotionally charged campaign to recover priceless cultural artefacts looted during the colonial era. A primary focus of this effort has been the repatriation of the famous "Benin Bronzes", which were seized by British soldiers in a retaliatory raid over 120 years ago and subsequently dispersed to museums and collections across Europe and the United States.
Indefinite Postponement and Accusations
In the wake of the protest, officials have announced that the museum's official opening, originally scheduled for Tuesday, is now postponed indefinitely. While the specific demands of the protesters were not immediately clear, Ihenacho expressed his belief that they were "representatives from the palace" of Oba Ewuare II. He further clarified the museum's identity, adding, "We have never pretended to be anything other than the Museum of West African Art."
The incident underscores the complex and often delicate interplay between cultural preservation, political influence, and traditional authority in Nigeria's vibrant art scene.
