Museum Event Disrupted by Protesters
Protesters have forcefully disrupted a preview event at the newly established Museum of West African Art (MOWAA) in Benin City, Nigeria, escalating an ongoing controversy surrounding the restitution of cultural artefacts looted by British colonial forces.
Video footage circulating on social media captured demonstrators loudly chanting "Oba ghato kpere ise" - meaning "Long live the King" in the local Bini language - as security personnel escorted both foreign and local visitors from the museum premises. According to reporters present at the scene, the protest resulted in minor damage to the museum building, which had been scheduled to open to the public on Tuesday.
Museum Director Confirms Vandalism
Phillip Ihenacho, MOWAA's director, provided details of the incident to Agence France-Presse, stating: "Protesters entered and began vandalising part of the reception pavilion, where we receive visitors, then they stormed inside the front section, where the exhibition area is located."
In an official statement released following the incident, the museum expressed deep gratitude to guests for their patience during the disruption and offered sincere apologies for any inconvenience caused. The institution has advised against any further visits to the campus until further notice.
Background: The Benin Bronzes Controversy
The Museum of West African Art represents a highly anticipated art campus featuring conservation laboratories, galleries, and studios designed to foster cultural exchanges around West African art. Located in what was once the capital of the ancient Benin empire, the museum stands approximately 40 miles north of another institution commemorating victims of a similar British expedition that occurred four years earlier.
MOWAA had been intended to host several of the renowned Benin bronzes - artefacts looted by British soldiers during the punitive expedition of 1897 that were subsequently dispersed across collections throughout Europe and America. Over the past five years, more than 150 original bronzes have been returned to Nigeria from European state museums and private collections as Western institutions attempt reconciliation for colonial-era plunder.
Political Rivalry Complicates Display
However, a political rivalry between Edo state's former and current governors, who belong to opposing political parties, has resulted in none of the returned bronzes being displayed at MOWAA. The current administration maintains an alliance with Oba Ewuare II, the spiritual and cultural leader of the Edo people, who has long argued that the artefacts should be housed at the Benin palace since they were originally looted from that location.
In March 2023, Nigeria's federal government aligned with the Oba's position. Although the specific demands of Sunday's protesters remain unclear, their chants appeared to demonstrate support for the king and the current Edo state administration.
Institutional Independence and Government Response
In its statement, MOWAA sought to distance itself from state government influence, emphasising its status as an independent, nonprofit institution in which the former governor holds no financial or other interests. The museum receives co-funding from both French and German governments alongside private donors.
Nigeria's Culture Minister, Hannatu Musawa, commented on the situation, stating: "The reported disruption at MOWAA not only endangers a treasured cultural asset but also threatens the peaceful environment necessary for cultural exchange and the preservation of our artistic patrimony."
Mixed Public Reaction
The incident has generated divided responses across Nigeria, with many calling for swift resolution as the country seeks to strengthen its position as a cultural superpower. Lagos-based Zero Prive gallery expressed concern in an Instagram post: "This is not good optics for Edo state and not also for Nigeria. We stand in support of MOWAA as an independent body. Whatever political issues or differences let it be sorted out in the interest of the people of Edo state and the country."
The protest highlights the ongoing tensions surrounding cultural restitution and the complex political dynamics influencing how Nigeria manages the return of its looted heritage, particularly the internationally significant Benin bronzes.
