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Nigeria's impressive new Art Museum of West Africa (Mowaa) has found itself in the crosshairs of regional political struggles during the period it was scheduled to – but was unable – to welcome visitors to the general public for the first time.

The Grand Vision

The six-hectare complex stands in the center of Benin's urban center, main city of the southern region of Edo – and includes an archaeological dig and buildings designed by high-profile Ghanaian-British architect Sir David Adjaye, most famous for the National Museum of African American History and Culture that opened in Washington DC in 2016.

It has been five years in the making – and is planned to celebrate both the heritage and the present of artistic expression in the area renowned for the historic artworks, artworks looted from the king's palace by British soldiers in the 19th Century.

Setup and Prospects

It is remarkable – and ahead of the anticipated opening, Mowaa was buzzing with staff committed to show it is a place that can rival renowned cultural centers in the Western world.

Inside preservation experts precisely opened cultural items from safety materials, examining each piece and taking detailed documentation before arranging them on exhibition areas and bases.

Specialists calibrated temperature regulation systems. In the materials science laboratory, officers set up instruments meant to conserve centuries-old items.

Financial Backing and Economic Vision

The venture has been the idea of entrepreneur Phillip Ihenacho – presently Mowaa's chief executive.

"I aim us to have a significant economic benefit on communities around here," he told the press, mentioning that he aspired to make Benin City "an arts hub."

Mowaa, a charitable local organization, aims at establishing over 30,000 work positions and providing more than $80m annually to the area arts sector through collaborations and activities.

Funding Sources and Political Challenges

It has required $25m to achieve this stage – funds gathered from multiple donors, featuring the international partners, the London institution and the Edo state government.

But now the local government has pulled the rug from under it – revoking the occupancy of the property on which the museum was built.

An official representative stated this was because in the early agreements it had referred to itself as Edo Museum of West African Art – and it had later dropped "the regional name" from its title.

Protests and Political Intervention

This declaration was preceded by rallies on Sunday, when activists stormed the campus demanding it be designated the Benin Royal Museum.

A boisterous group harassed overseas dignitaries at the museum ahead of the inauguration – requiring them to be hurried away under official guard.

President Bola Tinubu has additionally stepped in to work to address the tensions, creating a presidential committee to do some damage control.

Administrative Challenges

But why has this evolved into so politicised – and such a public relations crisis?

The majority of it stems from internal conflicts at a area administrative level, as it was the ex-administrator Godwin Obaseki – whose governance ended recently – who was a major backer of the project.

And it seems the leadership of the recently elected official, a key associate of the local traditional ruler, called the royal figure, may seek greater involvement in the project. The activists on Sunday, for case, were calling for that the museum be put under the authority of the royal leader.

The Cultural Artifacts Debate

This highlights the controversial matter of the cultural artifacts, one of the region's most famous historical legacy.

Because even if the institution does finally begin operations, these artifacts will be conspicuously absent.

They are metal, ivory and wooden carvings that once adorned the monarch's home of the historical empire before UK forces looted them in the colonial era during a military operation.

Today, many continue to be scattered across galleries in the West -- including the UK institution, Berlin's Humboldt Forum and the American museum.

Return Initiatives

Their return has become one of the most debated conversations in the global art world. About 150 have currently been returned – and additional are due to follow.

When proposals for the facility in Benin City were originally proposed in recent years, the movers and shakers on the country's cultural sector hoped it would become their natural home – a state-of-the-art complex to display them to the international community.

But the issues became confused some time back after the federal government announced that the traditional ruler would be the rightful owner of any returned bronzes – and the royal household campaigned for a facility under the royal family's direct control, contrary to the wishes of the former governor.

Political Navigation

This left Mowaa in a challenging circumstance: expressing a clear stance on repatriation while staying tactful on guardianship – and emphasising its wider mission, which led to|c