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Renowned Archaeologist, Chirikure Hails MOWAA as Rare Breed of African Museum

By Wawa Reporters -

November 8, 2024

Professor Shadreck Chirikure, Edward Hall Professor of Archaeological Science and Director of the Research Laboratory for Archaeology and the History of Art at Oxford University, has described the Museum of West Africa Art (MOWAA) as a rare breed of African museum and a first-world institution in Africa.
Speaking at the end of a two-day event, Chirikure emphasized MOWAA’s significance, saying, “MOWAA is not an everyday museum, it is an art gallery, a collections repository, a centre for research, and a platform for bringing artists and communities together to co-curate and co-create heritage.”
Chirikure highlighted MOWAA’s potential to train a new generation of African researchers, noting, “The MOWAA Institute will train a new generation of African researchers at home, using best standards and cutting-edge technology on home soil. It will be a first-world institution in Africa.”

Ore Disu, Director of MOWAA Institute, outlined her priorities, saying, “One of my first priorities would be to establish conservation and collections management practices that respond to our tropical climate, designed as practical and shareable protocols.”
Disu emphasized the importance of developing professionals with marketable skills, stating, “If we truly want to support other museums and existing collections, which we do, we have to get the fundamentals right. The reality is that there
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are limited grants for African research and educational institutions. Our focus will be on developing professionals with marketable skills beyond pure research, while expanding African-led scholarship.”
Disu explained MOWAA’s mission, saying, “MOWAA was formed in 2020 as an independent, non-profit organisation dedicated to education, learning, and skills development aimed at the preservation of heritage, the expansion of knowledge, and the celebration of West African arts and culture.”
She highlighted MOWAA’s partnerships and programs, noting, “Through ongoing partnerships, MOWAA offers programs and resources that foster deeper connections between contemporary art and culture and the rich heritage of West Africa, while creating a centre of excellence for African and diaspora artists and scholars.”

Disu described the MOWAA campus, saying, “The MOWAA Institute and its creative campus in the historic heart of Benin City will comprise multiple buildings and public spaces for research and education, display, performance, interaction, and the enhancement of arts and culture tourism, designed through the collaboration of local and international architects.”
She emphasized the campus’s role in nurturing creatives and heritage professionals, saying, “The MOWAA campus is an ecosystem to nurture, inspire, and showcase creatives and heritage professionals, building connections between ancient artistic traditions and contemporary creative practices. It will be a place to research and understand the past and empower and celebrate the next generation of culture makers.”