The Nation reports that, in a significant boost for Nigeria’s cultural heritage, the Museum of West African Art (MOWAA) and the Centre for Black and African Arts and Civilization (CBAAC) have entered a partnership with the National Gallery of Art (NGA) to enhance the preservation of Nigeria’s art and historical archives.
The five-year partnership seeks to expand access to research and exhibitions by digitising archives, promoting institutional exchanges, and offering scholarships to foster research and expositions into Nigeria’s rich artistic and cultural legacy. The MOWAA-CBAAC-NGA collaboration also focuses on developing homegrown perspectives on both renowned and upcoming Nigerian artists.
The agreement aims to preserve and promote Nigeria’s rich artistic heritage by leveraging MOWAA’s provision of its conservation facilities to help protect selected artworks from the NGA and CBAAC collections. MOWAA experts will also work on assessing, restoring, and maintaining culturally significant pieces. The partnership will also see MOWAA, CBAAC, and NGA spearhead and establish joint research initiatives to improve archive management and develop sustainable conservation techniques suited to African art.
The partnership is especially anchored on building conservation expertise through training and skill transfer as MOWAA seeks to provide technical support to public collections, helping to preserve important artworks and artifacts. The partnership will introduce training programs in art restoration, conservation, and digital archiving to enhance professional expertise in the sector.
Exhibitions, workshops, and lectures will be leveraged to encourage public engagement and foster a deeper appreciation of Nigeria’s cultural legacy. These training institutions will share research findings, toolkits, and databases to strengthen the art sector further and ensure broader access to historical and artistic resources.
Speaking on the partnership, Ore Disu, Director of MOWAA Institute, highlighted the significance of the initiative. “This partnership positions MOWAA as a leading resource in the region, offering our expertise and state-of-the-art facilities to institutions across Nigeria,” Disu said. “Our goal is to help safeguard and promote Nigeria’s artistic traditions through restoration, training, publications, and exhibitions.”
NGA Director-General Ahmed Sodangi described the collaboration as a significant breakthrough that will enhance professionalism in the sector. “We have been working on this partnership for a long time. It will create new opportunities, improve the capacity of our staff, and positively impact all stakeholders in the art sector,” Sodangi said.
Similarly, CBAAC Director-General Aisha Augie expressed excitement about the initiative’s potential. “CBAAC is proud to be part of this historic effort to promote African identity and artistic excellence globally. By working together, we will preserve our heritage and inspire future generations through research, publications, and creative innovation,” Augie noted.
Elizabeth Adeyemo, MOWAA’s Head of Collections and Senior Conservator, shared details of the initial projects. “Nigerian artworks are highly valued globally, but limited storage and management capacity often exclude them from international exhibitions. We will restore some of Nigeria’s most prestigious 20th-century paintings with NGA’s leadership. With support from the Goethe-Institute Nigeria, we will pilot conservation efforts this summer based on our experience with private collectors and institutions like the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi,” Adeyemo said.
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Founded in 2020, MOWAA is an independent non-profit organisation dedicated to preserving and celebrating West African arts and culture, supporting research, exhibitions, and education in the arts. CBAAC, on the other hand, was created after Nigeria hosted the 1977 World Black and African Festival of Arts and Culture (FESTAC ’77) and houses a vast collection of artifacts and materials from the festival. Meanwhile, the NGA, a federal agency under the Ministry of Arts, Culture, Tourism, and Creative Economy, was established in 1993 to showcase and protect Nigeria’s artistic heritage.
The agreement between the NGA, CBAAC, and MOWAA is a step forward in promoting African art and culture locally and internationally. The partnership also aligns with national strategies to preserve Nigeria’s cultural heritage and boost tourism by positioning Nigerian arts and culture as a lure.
The partnership aims to preserve and promote Nigeria’s rich cultural heritage by digitising archives, restoring artworks, and enhancing conservation techniques. This will make Nigerian art more accessible globally, attracting cultural tourists interested in African art and history. Also, as cultural tourism grows, there will be increased demand for hospitality services, leading to the development of hotels, restaurants, and other tourism-related businesses. This infrastructure development can further boost local economies.
The partnership also enhances Nigeria’s global cultural presence, positioning it as a significant player in the international art scene. This increased visibility can attract more tourists interested in exploring African culture.
