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The nation's stunning new West African Art Museum (Mowaa) has ended up in the crosshairs of regional political struggles during the period it was scheduled to – but did not manage – to open its doors to the visitors for the first time.

The Major Initiative

The six-hectare campus sits in the heart of Benin City, capital of the southern region of Edo – and features an excavation site and buildings created by renowned British-Ghanaian architect Sir David Adjaye, best known for the Washington African American Museum that was inaugurated in the US capital in 2016.

It has been half a decade in the creation – and is planned to honor both the past and the modern times of cultural innovation in the region famous for the historic artworks, cultural objects looted from the city's royal palace by British troops in the 19th Century.

Preparation and Promise

It is remarkable – and before the anticipated opening, Mowaa was active with staff determined to demonstrate it is a place that can compete with well-known art institutions in the West.

Internally conservators carefully revealed art pieces from protective packaging, examining each item and taking detailed records before arranging them on exhibition areas and bases.

Technicians adjusted climate control systems. In the research lab, officers adjusted instruments meant to maintain ancient artefacts.

Financial Backing and Economic Vision

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

"I want us to have a significant economic impact on local residents in the vicinity," he told journalists, noting that he aspired to make this urban center "a cultural destination."

Mowaa, a non-profit local organization, envisions itself establishing in excess of 30,000 direct and indirect jobs and adding above $80m each year to the local cultural industry through partnerships and events.

Financial Support and Government Issues

It has required $25m to reach this point – capital collected from various contributors, such as the French and German governments, the London institution and the local administration.

But currently the local government has pulled the rug from below it – canceling the use of the property on which the facility was constructed.

An government communicator explained this was because in the initial documents it had referred to itself as Edo Museum of West African Art – and it had subsequently removed "Edo" from its designation.

Demonstrations and Government Action

This declaration came after demonstrations on the weekend, when activists entered the facility calling for it be designated the Museum of the Benin Kingdom.

A disruptive crowd insulted international visitors at the venue before the inauguration – requiring them to be escorted out under official guard.

President Bola Tinubu has also become involved to attempt to settle the conflict, establishing a special task force to address the controversy.

Political Complexities

But in what way has this evolved into so controversial – and such a PR disaster?

The majority of it stems from local power struggles at a regional government level, as it was the former state leader Godwin Obaseki – whose administration ended recently – who was a primary advocate of the initiative.

And it seems the administration of the new governor, a strong supporter of the local traditional ruler, referred to as the Oba, may want greater involvement in the project. The demonstrators on Sunday, for case, were demanding that the institution be positioned under the supervision of the royal leader.

The Cultural Artifacts Debate

This emphasizes the contentious issue of the cultural artifacts, one of Africa's most celebrated historical legacy.

Because although the facility does finally welcome visitors, these objects will be clearly not present.

They are metal, ivory and wooden carvings that once decorated the royal palace of the historical empire before colonial troops stole them in 1897 during a colonial invasion.

Nowadays, many continue to be distributed across museums in Europe and North America -- including the London museum, Berlin's Humboldt Forum and the New York institution.

Restitution Efforts

Their repatriation has become one of the most disputed conversations in the international art community. Approximately 150 have currently come back – and additional are expected to return.

When plans for the facility in Benin City were initially revealed in recent years, the movers and shakers on the national arts community hoped it would become their perfect venue – a modern complex to exhibit them to the global audience.

But the situation became complicated recently after the federal government announced that the Oba would be the legal custodian of any returned bronzes – and the palace advocated for a institution under the monarch's supervision, contrary to the preferences of Obaseki.

Diplomatic Challenges

This placed Mowaa in a delicate position: asserting a definite position on return while being careful on ownership – and stressing its wider mission, which led to|c