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France has returned a talking drum, which was looted from Ivory Coast in 1916, to the West African country on Friday morning.
The talking drum, called Djidji Ayôkwé, is a massive carved wooden drum once used by the Atchan people of the Abidjan region to communicate between villages.
The Government of the Ivory Coast formally requested the talking drum, alongside 147 objects requested from France in 2018.
French President Emmanuel Macron pledged to return the drum during the Africa-France summit in 2021, part of broader discussions on the restitution of African cultural heritage.
According to Africa News, the talking drum will be stored for a month in a secure location to prevent cracks and is expected to go on display in April at the newly renovated Museum of Civilisations in Abidjan, the country’s capital.
Ivory Coast’s culture minister, Françoise Remarck, described the talking drum’s return as a message for the country’s youths who have decided to take ownership of their history.
“Your return is a message for our young people who have decided to take ownership of their history, for the communities that are rediscovering their Djidji Ayôkwé, a symbol of social cohesion, peace and dialogue,” said Remarck.
“This drum has been gone for centuries, so today, as a young man, I am overjoyed to receive it and to see it. When this drum was taken, it was difficult for us; they took something heavy from us. Today, we received the drum,” said Serge Akmel, who came to watch the arrival.
