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Nigeria's impressive new West African Art Museum (Mowaa) has found itself in the crosshairs of regional political struggles during the week it was scheduled to – but was unable – to begin operations to the visitors for the very first time.

The Ambitious Project

The six-hectare complex is located in the center of the Edo state capital, main city of the southern state of Edo – and contains an archaeological dig and facilities planned by high-profile Ghanaian-British architect Sir David Adjaye, most famous for the National Museum of African American History and Culture that was inaugurated in Washington in 2016.

It has been 60 months in the development – and is designed to showcase both the past and the present of artistic expression in the area famous for the historic artworks, cultural objects looted from the royal palace by British troops in the 19th Century.

Readiness and Potential

It is impressive – and prior to the scheduled opening, Mowaa was buzzing with employees determined to demonstrate it is a institution that can compete with established art institutions in the Western world.

Internally conservators meticulously opened artworks from safety materials, examining each artifact and taking meticulous notes before placing them on walls and bases.

Specialists adjusted environmental controls. In the materials science laboratory, officers calibrated equipment meant to preserve historical items.

Financial Backing and Economic Vision

The project has been the brainchild of entrepreneur Phillip Ihenacho – now Mowaa's executive director.

"I aim us to have a significant economic benefit on communities around here," he told the press, mentioning that he wanted to make Benin City "a cultural destination."

Mowaa, a charitable Nigerian institution, sees itself establishing more than 30,000 employment opportunities and contributing more than $80m each year to the area arts sector through collaborations and programming.

Funding Sources and Political Challenges

It has needed $25m to get here – capital raised from various contributors, such as the French and German governments, the UK museum and the local administration.

But now the state authorities has pulled the rug from beneath it – revoking the occupancy of the land on which the museum was built.

An government communicator clarified this was because in the initial documents it had referred to itself as Edo Museum of West African Art – and it had later eliminated "the regional name" from its designation.

Demonstrations and Government Action

This statement followed protests on Sunday, when protesters stormed the complex demanding it be designated the Royal Benin Museum.

A boisterous crowd insulted international visitors at the venue before the inauguration – compelling them to be hurried away under police escort.

President Bola Tinubu has even intervened to attempt to settle the conflict, establishing a special task force to address the controversy.

Governance Issues

But why has this evolved into so controversial – and such a PR disaster?

A great deal of it stems from local power struggles at a local state level, as it was the former state leader Godwin Obaseki – whose term in office finished the previous year – who was a major backer of the project.

And it appears the administration of the recently elected official, a strong supporter of the area king, referred to as the royal figure, may want increased control in the venture. The demonstrators on that day, for example, were insisting that the museum be placed under the authority of the royal leader.

The Benin Bronzes Controversy

This highlights the controversial matter of the cultural artifacts, one of the continent's most renowned artistic heritage.

Because although the facility does eventually welcome visitors, these artifacts will be clearly not present.

They are metal, ivory and wooden artworks that once decorated the royal palace of the historical empire before UK forces looted them in 1897 during a punitive expedition.

Nowadays, numerous stay spread across galleries in Europe and North America -- featuring the UK institution, German museum and the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Repatriation Campaigns

Their return has become one of the most contested debates in the international art community. Roughly 150 have currently been returned – and additional are due to follow.

When plans for the institution in Benin City were originally proposed in the pre-pandemic era, the influential figures on Nigeria's art scene anticipated it would become their natural home – a state-of-the-art complex to display them to the international community.

But the issues became confused two years ago after the central administration stated that the Oba would be the rightful owner of any returned bronzes – and the monarch's court pushed for a institution under the king's authority, against the wishes of the former governor.

Diplomatic Challenges

This placed Mowaa in a difficult situation: expressing a specific viewpoint on return while being careful on guardianship – and highlighting its broader vision, which led to|c