By Benjamin Njoku

In the heart of Benin City, the Museum of West African Arts , MOWAA, is rising as a cultural beacon, reclaiming the ancient kingdom’s lost glory.

This breathtaking architectural masterpiece will unveil its grandeur in mid-2025, sparking high expectations. Located within the Benin Kingdom’s ancient moats, MOWAA promises to rejuvenate the Edo nation’s rich cultural heritage and become a hub for artistic innovation, research, and preservation.

As the highly anticipated MOWAA prepares to open its doors, its Director, Ore Disu, and Chief Executive Officer, Philip Ihenacho, revealed the institute’s vision to revitalize West African arts and culture. More than just a museum, MOWAA is an intellectual reservoir dedicated to preserving the region’s cultural legacy.

Spanning 15 hectares, the campus boasts state-of-the-art facilities, including a 4,000-square-foot building with collections and archive facilities, materials and conservation laboratories, exhibition spaces, seminars, lecture rooms, conservation areas for indigenous trees, rooms for campus research, education, and public outreach programmes

MOWAA’s architectural design, crafted by Adjaye Associates, is a testament to sustainable excellence. The rammed-earth construction pays homage to West African heritage, while its 100-seat auditorium, conference rooms, and outdoor amphitheater provide a platform for artistic expression.

According to Ore Disu, “MOWAA gives Black and African people a sense of their place in the world. We’re creating something that honors our ancestors’ sophistication and empowers future generations.

MOWAA’s vision is to empower Black and African people with a sense of pride and connection to their heritage. ‘MOWAA aims to create a platform showcasing Africa’s achievements and innovations, countering doubts about the sophistication of our ancestors.

“We have started the journey by developing a campus right here in the heart of Benin City which will cater for all range of professionals, artists in a 15 hectare complex that will house various buildings designed to be a complementary and constellation of infrastructure or display for research, for production, for creative enterprise and for performance. Slated to open in mid-2025, MOWAA will become Nigeria’s newest tourist destination, boosting Edo’s tourism and cultivating future generations of cultural leaders through heritage studies and practices. Since its establishment in 2020, the centre has pursued its vision vigorously, leaving no stone unturned in its bid to put the West African sub-region on the world map of museum practice.

MOWAA’s preview event, “Museum in the Making: A Space for Critical Conversations and Reflection,” demonstrated its commitment to driving change and preserving West Africa’s rich history. The two-day event brought together donors, partners, artists, and cultural practitioners to spark critical conversations about the future of museum practice in West Africa. With its opening in mid-2025, MOWAA will become Nigeria’s newest tourist destination, boosting Edo’s tourism and cultivating future generations of cultural leaders.