A sacred talking drum looted during colonial rule has been returned to Côte d’Ivoire after more than 100 years. The drum, called Djidji Ayôkwé, was taken by French colonial authorities in 1916. It arrived at Félix Houphouët‑Boigny International Airport in Abidjan on March 13, 2026. The artifact had been kept at the Musée du Quai Branly – Jacques Chirac in Paris.
The drum was historically used by the Ebrié people to send messages between villages. It could announce deaths, celebrations, or warn communities of danger. Emmanuel Macron promised its return in 2021, and the French parliament later approved the decision. Ivorian Culture Minister Françoise Remarck described the return as a historic moment of justice and remembrance.
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