Protesters Halt Launch of Edo Museum of West African Art in Benin City

Benin City, Edo State – The much-anticipated opening of the Museum of West African Art (MOWAA) has been indefinitely postponed after a group of protesters disrupted a private pre-opening event on Sunday.

Founded five years ago by Nigerian businessman Phillip Ihenacho, MOWAA was set to showcase West African art, host artist residencies, and preserve cultural archives. The museum has received financial support from the French and German governments, the British Museum, and private donors.

According to reports, about 20 men, some armed with wooden bats, stormed the museum courtyard during a donor-focused preview. Guests were forced to take refuge inside the building while parts of the reception pavilion were vandalized.

“Protesters entered and began vandalising part of the reception pavilion, where we receive visitors, then they stormed inside the front section, where the exhibition area is located,” Ihenacho told AFP. After two hours, visitors were escorted to a nearby hotel.

Officials have yet to announce a new opening date. The motives behind the protest remain unclear, but the incident underscores the challenges cultural institutions may face in Nigeria.