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France has returned the “Djidji Ayokwe,” a historic talking drum seized by colonial troops in 1916, to the Ivory Coast.
The massive artefact, measuring over three metres long and weighing 430 kilograms, was once a vital communication tool for the Ebrie people.
The handover took place during a moving ceremony in Paris, where Ivorian Culture Minister Françoise Remarck expressed deep emotion, stating that her entire nation was ready to welcome back this powerful cultural symbol to its homeland.
The return of the drum is part of a broader shift in French policy regarding tens of thousands of artworks and artefacts seized during the colonial era.
While France has faced increasing restitution demands from former colonies like Algeria, Mali, and Benin, a new law is currently being prepared to authorise and accelerate these mass repatriations.
This legislative move signals a growing commitment by European nations to repair historical grievances and build diplomatic bridges with African partners.
Upon its arrival, the Djidji Ayokwe will be permanently exhibited in a state-of-the-art museum currently under construction in Abidjan, the Ivory Coast’s commercial capital.
For the Ebrie tribe and the wider Ivorian public, the drum represents more than just a historical object; it is a restored piece of national identity that was missing for over a century.
As French national museums continue to hold vast collections of African heritage, this specific repatriation serves as a high-profile example of the “restitution movement” gaining momentum.
By returning such a significant and physically imposing artefact, France aims to demonstrate its sincerity in addressing the complexities of its colonial past while ensuring that African history can be celebrated in its place of origin.
