Ivory Coast: France returns sacred ‘talking drum’ looted during colonial rule

France has officially returned the sacred Djidji Ayôkwé talking drum to the Ivory Coast, ending over a century of “cultural exile”.

The massive artefact—carved from a single iroko tree, measuring over three meters long and weighing approximately 430kg—was welcomed at Abidjan’s international airport with traditional ceremonies, war dances, and songs performed by the Ebrié (Atchan) people.

Ivorian Culture Minister Françoise Remarck hailed the event as a “historic day” and a significant moment of justice and remembrance for the nation.

The drum was seized by French colonial troops in 1916 during a punitive expedition intended to suppress local resistance in the Abidjan region.

Historically, the Djidji Ayôkwé served as a vital communication tool, using sophisticated rhythmic codes to transmit news across distances of up to 30 kilometres.

It was specifically used by the Atchan people to warn neighbouring villages of approaching colonial forces and to coordinate resistance against forced labour and tax collection, which led colonial authorities to target it as a strategic threat.

This restitution is a key milestone in a broader effort by France to return African cultural property, a process that gained momentum following a 2017 pledge by President Emmanuel Macron.

To bypass French laws regarding the “inalienability” of national collections, the French Parliament passed a special law in 2025 specifically authorising the drum’s return.

The Djidji Ayôkwé is the first of 148 requested artefacts to be repatriated to the Ivory Coast and will eventually be displayed in a place of honour at the newly renovated Museum of Civilisations in Abidjan.