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Nigeria's impressive new Art Museum of West Africa (Mowaa) has found itself in the middle of local power politics during the period it was supposed to – but failed – to welcome visitors to the general public for the first time.

The Grand Vision

The six-hectare complex sits in the center of Benin's urban center, administrative center of the southern region of Edo – and features an historical dig and facilities designed by high-profile Ghanaian-British architect Sir David Adjaye, particularly noted for the Washington African American Museum that was inaugurated in the US capital in 2016.

It has been five years in the development – and is envisioned to celebrate both the history and the modern times of artistic expression in the region renowned for the cultural artifacts, historical pieces looted from the king's palace by UK forces in the 19th Century.

Preparation and Promise

It is remarkable – and before the planned opening, Mowaa was energetic with employees determined to prove it is a institution that can match well-known cultural centers in the Europe and America.

Within conservators carefully opened cultural items from safety materials, examining each piece and taking detailed notes before positioning them on display surfaces and plinths.

Experts calibrated temperature regulation systems. In the materials science laboratory, personnel adjusted devices meant to maintain ancient objects.

Funding and Economic Goals

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

"I want us to have a major economic benefit on communities in this region," he explained to media outlets, noting that he aspired to make Benin City "a tourism center."

Mowaa, a not-for-profit national foundation, sees itself creating over 30,000 direct and indirect jobs and adding over $80m each year to the regional creative economy through alliances and events.

Funding Sources and Political Challenges

It has taken $25m to achieve this stage – money collected from multiple contributors, featuring the French and German governments, the UK museum and the regional authorities.

But now the regional administration has withdrawn support from under it – revoking the occupancy of the property on which the facility was constructed.

An Edo state spokesperson stated this was because in the initial documents it had called itself the Edo-named institution – and it had since dropped "Edo" from its title.

Demonstrations and Government Action

This declaration came after demonstrations on recently, when activists invaded the complex demanding it be called the Museum of the Benin Kingdom.

A boisterous crowd harassed international visitors at the facility ahead of the launch – requiring them to be escorted out under police escort.

National leader Bola Tinubu has also stepped in to work to address the tensions, creating a high-level committee to manage the situation.

Governance Issues

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

A great deal of it comes down to local power struggles at a area administrative level, as it was the ex-administrator Godwin Obaseki – whose administration concluded the previous year – who was a key supporter of the museum.

And it seems the government of the new governor, a key associate of the local traditional ruler, called the Oba, may desire greater involvement in the venture. The activists on the weekend, for case, were insisting that the facility be positioned under the authority of the current Oba.

The Historical Objects Discussion

This emphasizes the contentious issue of the cultural artifacts, one of the continent's most renowned cultural treasures.

Because even if the facility does finally welcome visitors, these artifacts will be conspicuously absent.

They are brass, elephant tusk and timber artworks that once adorned the royal palace of the ancient kingdom before colonial troops took them in 1897 during a punitive expedition.

Nowadays, many continue to be spread across museums in Europe and North America -- such as the British Museum, German museum and the American museum.

Repatriation Campaigns

Their homecoming has become one of the most debated debates in the worldwide cultural sector. Approximately 150 have currently been returned – and additional are scheduled to be repatriated.

When ideas for the facility in the city were originally proposed in recent years, the key players on the country's cultural sector expected it would become their ideal location – a modern campus to exhibit them to the international community.

But the waters were muddied recently after the federal government announced that the Oba would be the legal custodian of returned objects – and the palace pushed for a institution under the king's authority, against the wishes of the former governor.

Diplomatic Challenges

This placed Mowaa in a delicate position: maintaining a specific viewpoint on repatriation while remaining diplomatic on guardianship – and emphasising its broader vision, which led to|c