Protesters stormed the campus of the Museum of West African Art (MOWAA) in Benin City, Nigeria, on Sunday, just hours before its first preview events were set to begin. Demonstrators entered through a gate after being denied access, hurling insults at foreign guests and journalists. All preview events have been canceled and the public opening postponed. The museum attributed the unrest to disputes between previous and current state administrations, while local residents claimed anger over the perceived hijacking of a local initiative, with the Oba of Benin reportedly unhappy about the project.
The protests highlight ongoing tensions between MOWAA and the Oba of Benin, the traditional ruler, over the future of repatriated Benin Bronzes. Originally conceived as a home for the looted artifacts, the museum pivoted to contemporary art and archaeology after Nigeria’s president granted ownership of the bronzes to the Oba in 2023. The incident underscores the complex political and cultural dynamics surrounding heritage restitution and institutional development in Nigeria, threatening the museum’s long-awaited opening and its role in the region.