How is Nigeria’s new arts museum tied to the Benin Bronzes?

Uncertainty surrounds the fate of the highly anticipated Museum of West African Arts (MOWAA) in Benin City, Nigeria. The museum’s inception was initially tied to the restitution of the Benin Bronzes; when plans for the new state-of-the-art institution were first revealed in 2020, the museum was promoted as the “most comprehensive display [of Benin Bronzes] […]

Nigeria delays opening of new art museum after protests

Representative image (AP) The multi-million dollar Museum of West African Arts (MOWAA), a prestigious cultural project in Edo State in southern Nigeria, has suspended preview events scheduled for this week.MOWAA made the decision after around 20 men, some armed with wooden bats, stormed the museum courtyard on Sunday during a pre-opening event. Guests, including ambassadors […]