The Museum of West African Arts (MOWAA) in Benin City, Nigeria, faces uncertainty even though it is ready for the public. Initially promoted as a home for the Benin Bronzes, the museum now focuses on housing contemporary African art and training a new generation of archaeologists and conservators. However, this shift created tension with the Oba of Benin, the traditional ruler to whom the returned bronzes legally belong. Supporters of the Oba, fearing the museum would usurp his custodial role, disrupted its opening events. While MOWAA aims to boost Nigerian cultural infrastructure and artistic voices, the clash between royal authority, politics, and international donors leaves its future uncertain.
DW
