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The sacred Djidji Ayôkwé drum is finally heading home to Ivory Coast. This decision was cemented by a vote in the French National Assembly on Monday afternoon, following an earlier approval by the French Senate in April.
This newly passed legislation clears the way for the “talking drum”—so named because it could “communicate warning messages up to thirty kilometres between villages”—to be officially declassified and sent back to Abidjan.
Six Years After Ivory Coast’s Request
The Djidji Ayôkwé drum has a long and storied history, tragically removed from Ivory Coast by the French army in 1916 during the colonial period. This impressive wooden instrument weighs 530 kilograms and measures three metres long.
It has been housed in various museums over the years and underwent restoration in 2022, three years after Ivory Coast formally requested its return. Last November, the governments of both nations signed a deposit agreement, setting the stage for this valuable instrument’s restitution.
However, France’s process for returning stolen artefacts like the drum has faced criticism for being slow. So far, only 27 historical items taken during the colonial era have been returned to their home countries, primarily Benin and Senegal.
But for the “talking drum,” the final hurdle has been cleared. While we don’t have a specific date for its return yet, one thing is certain: the drum’s century-long, unwelcome exile is almost over.
