Ivory Coast welcomes ‘talking drum’, first artifact sent back from France

Traditional chiefs wearing crowns and gold chains gathered at the Ivory Coast’s main airport yesterday (13 March) to welcome ​the return of a “talking drum” looted more than a ‌century ago, the first artefact returned to the West African country by former colonial power France. The drum – known as “Djidji Ayokwè”, meaning Panther-Lion in the Atchan ​language – is more than three metres long and weighs ​nearly 400kg, according to the Ivory Coast’s culture ministry. It ⁠was used by the Atchan people, native to southern Ivory Coast, ​to alert locals to forced labour operations being carried out by ​colonisers and to mobilise fighters.

The Ivorian culture ministry is seeking the restitution of 148 artefacts from France, and the talking drum, previously displayed at the ​Quai Branly Museum in Paris, is the first to make ​the return journey. Confiscated in 1916, the talking drum was initially kept at the ‌governor’s ⁠palace in Abidjan before being sent to France in 1930, according to the culture ministry. “This is a historic day, and I am deeply moved,” Françoise Remarck, Ivory Coast’s minister of culture and Francophonie, ​said during Friday’s ​ceremony, punctuated ⁠by traditional songs and war dances.

Pressure has grown in recent years for former colonial powers such as ​France and Britain to return artefacts taken from ​Africa ⁠and Asia. Donning a traditional loincloth, Gervais Djoman, chief of an Atchan village, told Reuters yesterday that the return of the talking drum ⁠was ​a source of joy and pride for ​the Atchan people. “We are reclaiming our identity.

[paywall]

Psychologically, something had been taken from us,” ​he said. Côte d’Ivoire : le tambour parleur Djidji Ayokwé fait son retour historique à AbidjanUn siècle après son départ forcé, le tambour parleur Djidji Ayokwé a retrouvé la Côte d’Ivoire. L’objet sacré, appartenant aux peuples bidjans, est arrivé ôt dans la m…https://t.co/sUFsvkczITpic.twitter.com/nGrBc4xxvM #DjidjiAyôkwéGrâce à une volonté politique forte et une diplomatie active, le Tambour Parleur « Djidji Ayôkwé » est enfin de retour sur sa terre, après plus d’un siècle d’absence.KWABA ! KWABA !pic.twitter.com/8tB7GLmZz6 — Alassane Ouattara (@AOuattara_PRCI)March 13, 2026

[/paywall]