Nigeria’s Museum of West African Art (Mowaa) in Benin City faced a political crisis as it attempted to open, with local protests demanding the museum be renamed the Benin Royal Museum and placed under traditional leadership. The museum, a $25 million project backed by various donors, aims to be a cultural hub celebrating the region’s heritage, including the contested Benin Bronzes. However, the local government’s revocation of land use and internal rivalries complicate its future. President Bola Tinubu has intervened to mediate tensions surrounding the museum’s control and the ownership of the bronzes.
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