Return of the Djidji Ayôkwé
A sacred drum, known as the Djidji Ayôkwé, which was looted by French colonial forces during their rule in Ivory Coast, has been returned to the country more than a century after its seizure.
The drum was initially taken by colonial authorities in 1916 and transported to France in 1929. It was subsequently exhibited at the Trocadéro Museum and later at the Quai Branly Museum in Paris.
The Djidji Ayôkwé, a talking drum, was warmly welcomed by members of the Ebrié community, the original custodians of the artifact. The drum measures over three metres (10 feet) in length, weighs approximately 430 kilograms (68 stone), and is carved from iroko wood.
Significance and Ceremony
The return of the drum is part of a broader French initiative to repatriate African cultural artifacts, a process that commenced in 2017.
The drum arrived in Ivory Coast aboard a specially chartered plane but remained inside its large wooden crate marked "fragile" during transport. At Abidjan International Airport, a traditional dancer and a local chief were present to receive the drum.
"This is a historic day with lot of emotions," Ivory Coast's Culture Minister Françoise Remarck told the BBC.
"We are living through a moment of justice and remembrance that finally marks the return of the Djidji Ayôkwé to its land of origin."
The talking drum holds a central place in Ebrié heritage. Traditionally, it was used to warn of danger, mobilize people for war, and summon villages to ceremonies. The Ebrié ethnic group is based in Abidjan, the largest city in Ivory Coast.
Legal and Political Context
The drum was officially handed back by Paris on 20 February following the passage of a special law by the French parliament authorizing its restitution.
This talking drum is the first item on a list of 148 works that Ivory Coast is seeking to have returned from France and other countries.
France has previously returned some of the Abomey royal treasures to Benin and a historic sabre to Senegal.
As requests for restitution from former colonies increase, the French Senate adopted a framework law on 29 January designed to facilitate the removal of colonial-era artifacts from French national collections. This bill is expected to be discussed soon by the National Assembly.
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