The highly anticipated opening of the Museum of West African Art (MOWAA) was thrown into chaos after protesters invaded the premises, forcing the evacuation of international guests and the cancellation of all preview events.
The multi-million dollar state-of-the-art cultural hub in Edo was conceived partly as a future home for the renowned Benin bronzes — priceless artefacts looted by British soldiers in the 19th century.
However, a bitter dispute over who should control the soon-to-be-returned treasures appeared to be at the heart of the protest.
What was planned as an exclusive preview for investors, artists, and international dignitaries quickly devolved into turmoil.
A group of protesters breached the heavily secured grounds on Sunday, chanting war songs and demanding that the institution be named the “Benin Royal Museum” instead.
Videos from the scene showed the group insulting foreign journalists, diplomats, and tourists, ordering them to leave the premises.
In a statement released after the incident, MOWAA confirmed that all guests were safely escorted to secure locations.
The museum also announced the immediate cancellation of a follow-up preview event scheduled for Monday and the grand opening planned for Tuesday.
The museum positioned itself as an independent actor caught in a crossfire of local politics.
MOWAA also expressed regret to the affected guests, while stating that it is working with local authorities to address the situation.
“Earlier today, a protest took place on the MOWAA campus in Benin City,” the statement reads.
“The demonstration appeared to stem from disputes between the previous and current state administrations. While MOWAA was mentioned in the wider context of these grievances-alongside other development projects-we wish to emphasise that MOWAA is an independent, non-profit institution, of which the former governor has no interest financial or otherwise.
“As a precaution, all guests were safely escorted to secure locations and supported in continuing their travels to hotels, airports, or other destinations in the city. The safety and well-being of our staff, visitors, and partners remains our highest priority. We are working closely with local authorities to address the situation.
“We are deeply grateful to all our guests-many of whom travelled long distances to be here for their understanding, patience, and resilience. We sincerely apologise for any inconvenience this situation may have caused, including interruptions to travel plans or scheduled visits.
“Your commitment to being with us means a great deal, and we regret that your experience today was disrupted.
“There will be no preview events on Monday, 10 November and Tuesday, 11 November.”
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT REACTS
The federal ministry of art, culture, tourism and the creative economy, in a statement, expressed “deep concern” over the growing crisis at MOWAA, adding that it is closely monitoring the volatile situation at the Benin City institution.
The ministry described the incident as a “national issue,” emphasising that cultural institutions like MOWAA are vital “custodians of Nigeria’s history, identity and collective memory”.
The statement warned that the disruption “not only endangers a treasured cultural asset but also threatens the peaceful environment necessary for cultural exchange”.
Hannatu Musawa, the minister of art, culture, tourism and creative economy, disclosed that she has officially briefed the presidency on the matter.
“We are in active consultation with the Edo State Government, security agencies and all relevant stakeholders to establish a full understanding of the circumstances and to ensure an appropriate and proportionate response,” the statement reads in part.
The ministry vowed to “take the necessary measures to safeguard these institutions and to uphold the rule of law,” signalling that further state action to secure the museum may be possible.
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