Rebuilding cultural and creative infrastructure.
The MOWAA Campus is a dynamic neighbourhood set within the ancient walls of Benin City in Edo State, Nigeria with platforms for display, interaction and commerce. The expansive hub is aimed at being a catalyst for the wider Cultural Quarters of Benin that will reclaim Benin City’s position as the cultural capital of West Africa –a key nexus of heritage and reinvention.
Set against wider conservation efforts, the regenerated neighbourhood will highlight the sophisticated past of this 1000-year city and host a thriving community of scholars and artists-in-residence, serviced by exhibition, performance, and production spaces.
Positioned within Benin City in Edo State, Nigeria, it is about a 30- minute flight/3 hour drive from Lagos and is one of Nigeria’s key transportation hubs. Edo State is striving to build its capital as an affordable, liveable city that is catered for cultural and digital industries and academia.
Responding to local realities and opportunities, MOWAA aims to achieve tangible, scalable impact in the form of jobs, tourist attractions, and magnified visibility for West Africa’s globally marketable brands and knowledge products.
The engine room of knowledge generation and creative collaborations.
MOWAA’s Rainforest Gallery, due to open in 2025, will be a world class 1,400sqm exhibition space designed by Senegalese firm, Worofila
Serving as a curated retail space for local artisans to thrive economically, The Artisans Hall will showcase living and traditional cultures.
MOWAA programmes will connect with a global audience of Nigerians and other Diaspora and African communities through dialogue and education.
The Art Guesthouse will offer short-term accommodations, serving as a creative haven for visiting academics, artists, and outside visitors alike.
In the form of sculpture parks, memorials, and gardens, MOWAA will reclaim nature to expand shared spaces for visitors and local communities.
Redefining notions of community through new publics and collectives.
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