World

Edo protesters storm brand new home for West African art

byAdmin

November 10, 2025

Tudah OpeyemiBBC Africa, Lagos

Protesters insulted visitors who came for a preview event

X protesters photographed at the New Art Museum in Nigeria — Protesters insulted visitors who came for a preview event

Protesters targeted a new multi-million-dollar museum in Nigeria, forcing organizers to halt a preview before its grand opening on Tuesday.

Videos showed a group insulting foreign guests and ordering them to leave after they entered the grounds of the Museum of West African Arts (MOWA) in Benin City on Sunday.

The museum in Edo State is designed in part to be a home for Benin Bronzes, artifacts looted from there by British soldiers in the 19th century. The campus includes state-of-the-art conservation and restoration facilities.

However, a bitter dispute over control of the precious artworks means they are not in the museum, something that appears to have angered protesters.

All guests were safely escorted to secure locations, According to a statement from the museum.

“We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this situation may have caused,” Muwa said.

One local resident told the BBC that frustration stems from what many see as a hijacking of the Edo project.

“Benin Oba [king]“The traditional rulers and the Edo government are not happy about this,” the resident added.

Mowa, designed by British-Ghanaian architect David Adjaye, cost an estimated $25 million (£19 million) to build

Museum of West African Art (MOWAA), Marco Cappelletti/Marco Cappelletti Studio The exterior of the museum building with a statue in front of it. — Mowa, designed by British-Ghanaian architect David Adjaye, cost an estimated $25 million (£19 million) to build

“Edo” was initially the name of the museum, but was later dropped. Chief executive Philip Iheanacho told the BBC that supporters wanted the foundation to serve a broader purpose outside Nigeria.

Mowa said in her statement that the protest “appears to stem from disagreements between the previous and current state administrations.”

The museum stressed that it is an independent, non-profit organization, and although a former state governor supported the project, he had no interest in it “financially or otherwise.”

Mowaa has now canceled all pre-opening preview events and has advised visitors to avoid the campus until the situation is resolved.

“We are extremely grateful to all of our guests – many of whom have traveled long distances to be here – for their understanding, patience and flexibility,” the statement read. “We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this situation may have caused.”