MOWAA Announces Partnership with Cambridge University to Enhance Access to Archives, Collections 

Yinka Olatunbosun 

In anticipation of the opening of its first building, the MOWAA Institute, the Museum of West African Art (MOWAA) yesterday announced that it had signed an agreement with Cambridge University’s Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology in England that anticipates a range of co-operation initiatives including access to and loans of objects, research and supporting materials in its collections, co-operation in the organisation of workshops and study groups related to collections, research and public programming. 

The MOWAA Institute is housed in a 4,000 square foot building with collections and archives facilities, material and conservation labs, exhibition space and seminar and lecture rooms, and will be the engine room for the campus’ many programs in research, educational and public outreach. 

Ore Disu, the Director of the MOWAA Institute, said: “Too often, African cultural practitioners, communities and scholars are excluded from discussions about their own material culture —whether due to visa issues, travel costs, or barriers to museum access abroad. This collaboration helps bridge that gap by bringing collections and archives back to West Africa. To compete globally, African creatives need to have access to the best research, archives and mentoring opportunities in the world. We’re proud to provide access to the resources and archival materials of one of the world’s most prestigious universities right here at MOWAA. We commend Cambridge for its willingness to work towards a shared vision of inclusive practice.”

In his remarks, Professor Nicholas Thomas, Director of the Cambridge Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology said: “The core purposes of the Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology are to make great historic collections accessible and activate them through contemporary engagement. We are delighted to be working with MOWAA in support of their mission and ours. The partnership will make key works and resources from Cambridge’s collections accessible in Benin City. MOWAA promises to become a key convening point for the rich cultural landscape in West Africa. Further research and artistic exchange will benefit both institutions and our communities.”

The Museum of West African Art (MOWAA) was formed in 2020 as an independent, non-profit organization 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. 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. 

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. 

The MOWAA Institute will support museums and cultural organisations in West Africa as a site for ongoing research and a hub for training in archaeology, conservation, heritage management and museum practice.

The Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology (MAA) was established in 1884. It is one of the eight museums of the University of Cambridge. It cares for one of the most important world cultures collections in Europe, that includes outstanding works of art and historically-significant collections of material culture from around the world, covering all periods of human history, from origins in Africa to contemporary, post colonial societies. 

Since its foundation, the Museum has been a leading centre for teaching and research in Cambridge. Over recent decades, MAA has foregrounded international engagement, particularly with communities, heritage professionals, academics, students and artists in the nations that the collections originate from. Museum staff have won major grants in support of artists’ residencies, exhibitions, research and the return of collections to communities and countries of origin. 

Dr. Arapata Hakiwai, co-director of the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa has recently written, ‘Among European museums, MAA stands out for its sustained commitment to acknowledging Indigenous perspectives and its commitment to collaboration across the global South.’