In a groundbreaking development for African art and cultural heritage, the city of Benin in Nigeria is preparing to open the doors to the Museum of West African Art (Mowaa) in 2025. This ambitious new institution, spanning a 15-acre campus, aims to set a new standard for museums on the continent and provide a fitting home for the region’s extraordinary artistic legacy.
A Museum for the 21st Century
Unlike traditional museums confined to a single building, Mowaa will feature a constellation of galleries, laboratories, and performance spaces spread across its expansive grounds. The innovative campus layout draws inspiration from the ancient Benin City, where artisans’ guilds and entrepreneurial communities thrived within the city’s fortified walls.
At the heart of the museum lies the recently unveiled Mowaa Institute, a state-of-the-art center for research, conservation, and exhibitions. Equipped with climate-controlled storage rooms, advanced laboratories, and ample display areas, the institute building marks a significant milestone in Mowaa’s development.
Workshops and Excavations Mark ‘Hard Hat’ Opening
To introduce visitors to the museum’s mission and spark dialogue about the role of African museums in the 21st century, Mowaa held a series of workshops and live archaeological excavations as part of its “hard hat” opening earlier this month. Guests had the opportunity to witness the museum’s facilities in action and engage with the ongoing process of shaping this groundbreaking institution.
Rewriting the Narrative on African Cultural Heritage
The establishment of Mowaa comes at a critical juncture, as an increasing number of Western museums are taking steps to repatriate African artifacts looted during the colonial era. The museum’s leadership emphasizes that its mission extends beyond simply housing returned objects; it seeks to challenge long-held misconceptions about Africa’s capacity to preserve and showcase its own heritage.
“If there were those who did not believe in the vision or that Africans can do it, the opening of the institute demonstrates that Mowaa is now a reality, and that contemporary Africans, like their ancestors who made the famous Benin bronzes, are capable of looking after their heritage using the highest standards found anywhere in the world,”
says Shadreck Chirikure, professor of archaeological science at the University of Oxford and an adviser to the museum.
Ore Disu, director of the Mowaa Institute, echoes this sentiment, stating that the museum aims to give “Black and African people a sense of their place in the world” by serving as a repository for humanity’s shared cultural heritage. By preserving and celebrating West Africa’s rich artistic traditions, Mowaa seeks to foster a renewed sense of pride and connection among contemporary Africans.
A Campus of Culture and Community
In addition to the institute building, Mowaa’s campus will feature several other noteworthy spaces. The Rainforest Gallery, a 1,400-square-meter exhibition hall nestled within a replanted rainforest, will showcase large-scale contemporary art installations. An on-site guesthouse will provide accommodations for visiting researchers, artists, and cultural delegates, fostering international collaboration and dialogue.
Throughout the grounds, memorial gardens and performance areas will serve as gathering spaces for the local community and visitors alike. By weaving together art, nature, and communal interaction, Mowaa aims to create an immersive and dynamic experience that extends beyond the traditional museum model.
Empowering African Researchers and Artists
Central to Mowaa’s mission is the goal of nurturing homegrown talent and expertise. The institute’s cutting-edge laboratories and research facilities will provide unparalleled opportunities for African scholars to study and conserve their cultural heritage without relying on overseas institutions.
“The Mowaa Institute is a first-of-its-kind space dedicated to world-class, cutting-edge science research to develop new narratives and to conserve African art and collections,” Chirikure explains. “We will train a new generation of African researchers at home, using best standards and cutting edge [techniques] on home soil while generating new and interdisciplinary information about the African past.”
For contemporary African artists, Mowaa represents a vital platform for engaging with their cultural heritage and showcasing their work on a global stage. Lagos-based visual artist Nengi Umoku describes the museum’s arrival as “truly a significant moment in our history,” noting that it offers an unprecedented opportunity for artists to directly access the masterpieces that have long inspired them.
A Beacon for Benin and Beyond
As Mowaa prepares to open its doors, the museum’s leadership emphasizes its potential to serve as a catalyst for economic growth, community development, and creative innovation in the region. By attracting international attention and cultural tourism, the institution aims to generate new opportunities for local businesses and entrepreneurs.
However, the museum’s impact is expected to extend far beyond its immediate surroundings. As a model for what a 21st-century African museum can be, Mowaa has the potential to inspire similar initiatives across the continent and reshape global perceptions of Africa’s cultural heritage.
“Mowaa is an excellent example of what happens when Africans decide to give back to Africa, and to work with others to create lasting legacies in the museum and heritage space,” Chirikure asserts.
As the world watches, the Museum of West African Art stands poised to embark on a groundbreaking journey—one that promises to redefine the role of museums in preserving, celebrating, and empowering African cultural heritage for generations to come.
