The Museum of West African Art (MOWAA) is proud to announce the official public opening of the first phase of its Campus and the Institute in Benin City, Nigeria on 11 November 2025, marking a significant moment in the evolution of cultural institutions on the African continent. As part of this landmark occasion, MOWAA also […]
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The Museum of West African Art (MOWAA) is proud to announce the official public opening of the first phase of its Campus and the Institute in Benin City, Nigeria on 11 November 2025, marking a significant moment in the evolution of cultural institutions on the African continent. As part of this landmark occasion, MOWAA also unveils the formation of its inaugural Artist Council, a dynamic body of leading contemporary African and diasporic artists committed to shaping the future of artistic expression and institutional engagement across Africa and beyond.
MOWAA will open its Campus in Benin City with its inaugural exhibition – the anticipated return of the Nigerian Pavilion from its showcase at the 60th Venice Biennale, now enriched with four new artists embedded in Nigeria’s contemporary realities: Kelani Abass (b. 1979, Abeokuta, Nigeria), Modupeola Fadugba (b. 1985, Lomé, Togo), Ngozi-Omeje Ezema (b. 1979, Enugu, Nigeria), and Isaac Emokpae (b. 1977, Lagos, Nigeria). Curated by Aindrea Emelife, the Nigeria Imaginary Homecoming exhibition will unfold across multiple spaces on the MOWAA Campus, and will open critical possibilities for dialogue and reflections on the state and possibilities of the nation. This exhibition closes on April 11, 2026.
The MOWAA Institute spans approximately 4,500 square meters (48,000 square feet) of state-of the-art facilities for archaeological research, conservation, and public programmes, as well as one of the largest collections storage facilities on the continent. Following a dynamic programme of preview events, including exhibition tours, talks, workshops, and neighborhood activations, the launch will celebrate MOWAA’s five-year journey, showcasing its work in both preserving the region’s cultural and artistic past, while driving new contemporary practice.
The opening of the Institute marks the first in a constellation of buildings which will form the MOWAA Campus in the heart of Benin City, Nigeria. Further spaces will include: The Rainforest Gallery (the main exhibition space), The Art Guesthouse (boutique hotel), The Artist Studios and The Artisans’ Hall (performance and event space). Situated within the emerging Benin City Cultural District, the full Campus is projected to reach completion by 2028, repositioning the city as a global cultural capital.
At the core of MOWAA’s vision is a commitment to inspiring the next generation of creatives, artists and cultural thought leaders in West Africa. The establishment of the Artist Council expands this mission beyond the museum’s walls, ensuring that the development and evolution of MOWAA’s flagship programming remains artist led. Through critical dialogue that interrogates contemporary artistic and socio-political landscapes, Council members help shape a programme rooted in collective visioning and artistic rigour.
Council members were selected for their involvement with institutions or cultural organizations across the continent – either as founders or advisors – opening pathways for collaboration with MOWAA through joint initiatives and special projects that encourage deeper engagement and shared impact. Confirmed council members include: Yinka Shonibare CBE RA (b. 1962, London, United Kingdom), G.A.S. Foundation; Michael Armitage (b. 1984, Nairobi, Kenya), Nairobi Contemporary Art Institute (NCAI); Victor Ehikhamenor (b. 1970, Lagos, Nigeria), Angels & Muse and Black Muse; Nengi Omuku (b.1987, Lagos, Nigeria), TAOH Africa; Dr. Odun Orimolade (Lagos, Nigeria), YABATECH; Kaloki Nyamai (b. 1985, Kitui, Kenya), Kamene Cultural and Research Center.
The Council reflects MOWAA’s commitment to reimagining and asserting the primacy of African and diasporic cultural production on its own terms, while grounding urgent discourse in real spaces and active practice. Members will serve two-year terms, with the possibility of extension to support continuity and deeper engagement. Their role spans mentorship in education and residency programmes, and advising on exhibitions and research labs to ensure alignment with real-time artistic urgencies. As ambassadors, Council members will foster two-way exchanges across Africa and globally – championing African practice abroad while bringing fresh perspectives home.
The announcement of the opening of the Institute and the establishment of the Artist Council represents a milestone in the continuing expansion of West Africa’s cultural and artistic heritage – not only in preserving the past, but towards catalyzing the future.
“Opening MOWAA during Nigeria’s art season allows us to situate this institution within a broader, ongoing conversation about art in and from Africa, and our Artist Council signals our commitment to supporting artists, thinkers, and publics in shaping how culture is produced, seen, and understood.” — Phillip Ihenacho, Director, MOWAA
Victor Ehikhamenor, Artist Council member, commented: “Joining MOWAA’s Artist Council is both a responsibility and an honor. As artists, we are not just creators – we are custodians of memory, of community, of possibility. Too often, institutions are built around art without the artist’s voice as its foundation. MOWAA is reversing that. By centering artists in its structure, it offers a bold template for how museums can evolve – not only in West Africa, but globally. I look forward to contributing to a model where creativity, criticality, and care lead the way.”
“Sustainable progress in the arts requires more than individual brilliance – it demands long-term institutional thinking and action. MOWAA’s Artist Council embodies this approach, bolstering artistic practice with infrastructure and ensuring that those shaping culture help shape the systems that sustain it. MOWAA is committed to working with others to build a regenerative and interconnected creative ecosystem. Residencies, archives and arts education cannot thrive in isolation; they must be grounded in dialogue – between artistic experimentation, real world conditions and Africa’s deep historical knowledge systems.” — Ore Disu, Director, MOWAA Institute
“MOWAA’s Artist Council plays an important role in ensuring that artists are not simply included in institutional narratives, but are instrumental in defining their frameworks and futures. That kind of inclusion is essential if we are to create sustainable systems of support for African artists. At the G.A.S. Foundation, we’ve seen how artist-led institutions can shift ecosystems from within. MOWAA is part of that growing momentum, fostering a more connected, future-facing cultural landscape across Africa and the Diaspora.” — Yinka Shonibare CBE RA
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