Protesters stormed the newly built Museum of West African Art (MOWAA) in Benin City, Nigeria, forcing organizers to suspend a high-profile preview event ahead of its official grand opening scheduled for Tuesday.
Videos circulating online showed angry protesters confronting and verbally attacking foreign guests, ordering them to leave the museum premises. The incident occurred on Sunday, prompting security teams to swiftly evacuate all attendees to safety.
MOWAA, a state-of-the-art cultural complex located in Edo State, was envisioned as a modern home for the Benin Bronzes — the world-renowned artefacts looted by British soldiers in the late 19th century. The facility also features advanced conservation and restoration laboratories designed to preserve West Africa’s artistic heritage.
However, none of the priceless bronzes are currently housed at the museum due to an ongoing power struggle over who controls the artefacts. The dispute, which involves traditional leaders, the Edo State government, and federal authorities, is believed to have fueled the outrage that led to Sunday’s protest.
A local resident told the BBC that many people in Edo view the project as having been taken out of their hands. “The Benin Oba, traditional rulers, and the state government are not happy about it,” the resident said.
Initially named the Edo Museum of West African Art, the institution later dropped “Edo” from its title — a change that some residents interpreted as an attempt to distance the project from the local community.
In a statement, MOWAA described the protest as stemming from “disputes between the previous and current state administrations” and clarified that it is an independent, non-profit organization. The museum emphasized that while a former state governor had supported the idea, he held no financial or personal stake in the project.
Executive Director Phillip Ihenacho told the BBC that the museum’s vision extends beyond Nigeria’s borders, aiming to serve as a pan-African cultural hub for research, restoration, and education.
In light of the unrest, MOWAA announced the cancellation of all preview events and advised visitors to stay away until tensions ease. “We are deeply grateful to all our guests — many of whom travelled long distances — for their patience and understanding,” the museum said, offering apologies for the disruption.
The incident highlights growing tensions over ownership, cultural identity, and representation in Nigeria’s heritage preservation efforts, even as the country continues to seek the return of looted artefacts from Western institutions.