France hands back stolen colonial-era artifact to West African country

The Djidji Ayokwe, or ‘talking’ drum, has been returned to Ivory Coast after being looted nearly a century ago

France has returned the Djidji Ayokwe, a sacred “talking” drum taken under French rule, to Ivory Coast, UNESCO said on Sunday, stressing that the repatriation of the artifact advances efforts to restore African heritage stolen by colonial powers.

The musical instrument, central to the cultural and artistic traditions of the Ebrie people, was used to warn of danger, mobilize communities for war, and summon villagers for ceremonies. French colonial troops confiscated the drum in 1916 to suppress resistance by the Atchan people. It was transported to France in 1929, where it was first kept at the Musée de l’Homme before being transferred in 2006 to the Quai Branly–Jacques Chirac Museum in Paris.

The handover ceremony took place at the museum in the presence of Ivory Coast’s culture minister, Francoise Remarck, and her French counterpart, Rachida Dati. UNESCO said it supported the process through its office in Abidjan and allocated $100,000 to help enhance preservation and public promotion of the drum following its return.

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“All of Ivory Coast is ready to welcome it,” Remarck said during the ceremony in Paris. Dati said she was “extremely moved” by the “return of this symbol” that is “finally coming back to its homeland.”

The move comes amid growing debate in Europe over the legacy of colonial-era collections held in Western museums. In 2017, French President Emmanuel Macron pledged to accelerate the return of African cultural artifacts held by former colonial powers.

France took a major step in that direction in late 2021, when it returned 26 treasures, looted by French troops in the 19th century from the royal palace of Abomey, to Benin.

The return of the Djidji Ayokwe is seen by cultural officials as another milestone in ongoing efforts to address historical injustices while strengthening cultural ties between former colonial powers and African nations.