Benin Bronzes
Thousands of Benin Bronzes, artwork and artifacts, some dating back to the 15th century, were looted from the Benin Kingdom by British soldiers in the 19th Century. Many of these items subsequently made their way onto displays and collections at prominent museums and institutions worldwide, particularly in Europe and America. [5]
The Museum of West African Art was originally intended to display these Benin Bronzes, but none of them are shown and none of them are in the museums depot. [6] The Bronzes were given to Oba Ewuare II by president Muhammadu Buhari in 2023 before the museum was built. [7]
Delayed Opening and Repatriation Controversy
As of Late November 2025, there remains dispute among several parties (including federal and state governments as well as the local community) over control and rightful ownership of the repatriated artifacts. [8] The governor of Edo, Nigeria, Monday Okpebholo, revoked the "Certificate of Occupancy for the land on which Mowaa is located, citing 'overriding public interest' and doubts about the museum’s ownership and governance." [9]
On 9 November 2025, protests were reported at the museum during preview events ahead of the formal opening. This led the previews to be curtailed and the museum issuing a statement about the protests. [10] Followers of Oba Ewuare II attacked the private preview ceremony with observers concluding, that after the Benin Bronzes were already locked away in his private palace, the Oba would now seek control over the new museum itself to use it for some form of traditionalistic self-presentation. [11] The Oba had claimed he conceived the museum to be the Benin Royal Museum under his custodianship and not the "Museum of West African Art". According to him, the renaming happened without his consent. [9]
"Phillip Ihenacho, MOWAA’s director and executive chair, tells The Art Newspaper: 'We have been caught up in a complex local situation. There are misperceptions about what we are and what we are not. Yes, we started during the discussions of restitution of Benin Bronzes, but fairly quickly afterwards, from 2021 onwards, we have tried to make it clear that we are not a receptacle for the Benin Bronzes. We do not have an entitlement to Benin Bronzes, and we are not trying to compete with other museums established in Benin. Our strong belief is that Benin City needs multiple points of interest from multiple museums.'" [12]
Museumassociation.org claims "There is concern among Nigeria’s cultural commentators that the row could damage the country’s reputation and set back efforts to repatriate the Benin bronzes and other cultural artefacts." [9]
