Here is an ode to the archaeological legacy of Benin
The study of architect David Adjaye -In collaboration with the British Museum and Legacy Restoration Trust- has been in charge of one of the most important cultural projects of the decade in Benin: the Edo Museum of West African Art (EMOWAA), a temple that will collect archaeological relics of the capital of Edo state.
“The EMOWAA will function as a reteaching tool: a place to remember lost collective memories and to instill understanding the magnitude and importance of these civilizations and cultures" , claimed its creator, David Adjay.
pottery gallery
Under the initiative 'Rediscover the history of Benin' , the new cultural institution will be dedicated both to the exhibition of pieces and to the investigation of archaeological remains, including those located buried on the site, becoming the deepest excavation carried out in the area.
The archaeological investigations that have been carried out so far in Benin City have focused, to a large extent, on the monumental structures of the wall.
However, limited excavations of tests that were carried out in the center of the city in the 1950s and 1960s revealed some very important findings. Among them were buildings and traces of elaborate ceramic pavements.
On the other hand, the excavated objects included various metal items, such as a brass snake head and part of a plaque depicting a mud fish , as well as a wide variety of pieces that recount the life of the pre-colonial kingdom: from cute ceramic pots to glass beads.
the museum entrance
In this way, the arqueology becomes a tool to connect the new museum with the surrounding population and landscape, revitalizing and incorporating the surviving remains of the walls, moats and gates of the historic city.
The initial phase has started this 2021 , with the participation of local communities, the royal court of Benin, the government and the National Commission of Museums and Monuments (NCMM).
Reconstruction of a royal pavilion
"I am deeply inspired to design the new EMOWAA, a project that will establish a new museum paradigm for Africa. From a first glance at the preliminary design concept, one might think that this is a traditional museum, but in reality, what we propose is undo the reification that has occurred in the West through a complete rebuild,” said David Adjaye when details of the museum were announced.
The open dialogue posed by this project will create new opportunities to address and understand the important history of the former Kingdom of Benin , destroyed by British forces in 1897 and became Edo - which is part of Nigeria - in 1991.
Once the excavation has been completed, the building where the Royal Collection will rest will be built: West African Art And Artifacts, including the world's most complete sample of bronzes from Benin.
Also, all parts originating from the African state , which are currently scattered around the world, will no longer be part of the international collections to meet in this new institution.
But not everything will be tradition in the EMOWAA: the museum will also include great galleries dedicated to contemporary arts , who will respond to current issues and engage with the community of emerging artists from Benin.
contemporary art gallery
In terms of design, the Adjaye Associates team has been inspired by the architectural style of the adjacent Oba's Palace , just as it has created its own patio that acts as public garden , exhibiting a variety of native flora that can be seen under the large canopy.
On the other hand, galleries will float over the gardens and will be articulated by means of a series of elevated volumes, within which pavilions that take their form of fragments of reconstructed historical enclosures.
These scenarios will place objects in their pre-colonial context and will offer visitors the opportunity to better understand the true meaning of the objects within the traditions of the city.
"Benin is an ancient city with an incredible wealth of artifacts and ruins that could and should form the basis of a center for research, education in archaeology, art, conservation and preservation”, pointed the Governor Godwin Obaseki.
“The construction of a world-class museum in the historic part of the city requires archaeological work that guarantees the conservation and register of buried historical remains at the museum's construction site, so that the artifacts can be cataloged and preserved for display he added he.
One of the educational spaces
In turn, the development of the museum will coincide with the Digital Benin project , which will collect all the world information and documentation about the city on a single online platform.
When can we visit the EMOWAA? Although the opening date is still unknown, Adjaye Associates calculates that the construction will last for a period of five years.