A preview event at Nigeria’s new multi-million-Dollar Museum of West African Art, or MOWAA, in Benin City was forced to halt yesterday after protesters targeted the venue.
Videos circulating on social media showed demonstrators confronting foreign guests and ordering them to leave the museum grounds ahead of tomorrow’s grand opening.
The museum, located in Edo State, was partly established to house the Benin Bronzes, artefacts taken by British forces in the 19th century. Its campus features state-of-the-art preservation and restoration facilities. However, ongoing disputes over the control of the prized artworks have meant they are not currently on display at the museum, a situation that reportedly fuelled the protesters’ anger.
Authorities have not yet issued a statement on the incident.
–ChannelAfrica–
