France returns colonial-era talking drum to Ivory Coast

 France has formally returned a sacred colonial-era "talking drum" known as Djidji Ayôkwé (also spelled Djidji Ayokwe or Ayôkwé Djidji) to Ivory Coast, marking a significant moment in the ongoing global push to repatriate cultural artifacts looted during the colonial period.

The handover ceremony took place on Friday, February 20, 2026, at the Musée du Quai Branly-Jacques Chirac in Paris. France's Culture Minister Rachida Dati presided over the event, addressing dignitaries and representatives from both nations as the imposing wooden instrument was officially transferred to Ivorian authorities.

The drum, a massive three-meter-long, 530-kilogram slit drum carved from a single tree trunk, holds deep cultural and spiritual importance for the Ebrié (or Atchan) people of southeastern Ivory Coast. It was seized in 1916 by French colonial troops during a military expedition in the Adjamé area near Abidjan. The artifact was then brought to France, where it eventually entered the collections of the Musée du Quai Branly, one of the country's premier institutions for non-Western art and heritage.

Ivory Coast first made an official restitution request in 2019, part of a large list of 148 cultural items the country seeks to reclaim from France and other former colonial powers. The process gained momentum after French President Emmanuel Macron signaled support during the 2021 Africa-France Summit in Montpellier, pledging to accelerate returns of looted heritage. A temporary loan agreement signed in November 2024 allowed the drum to be displayed briefly in Ivory Coast while legal hurdles were cleared.

The key breakthrough came in July 2025, when France's National Assembly and Senate unanimously passed a special law declassifying the drum from national collections overriding the principle of "inalienability" that typically protects public museum holdings and authorizing its permanent return within one year. This legislation paved the way for Friday's ceremony, making Djidji Ayôkwé the first item from Ivory Coast's restitution list to be fully repatriated by France.

Speaking at the event, Minister Dati described the return as a "strong symbol" of reconciliation and mutual respect between the two nations. Ivorian officials, including representatives from the Ministry of Culture and Francophonie led by Minister Françoise Remarck, expressed profound gratitude, noting that the drum's homecoming restores a vital piece of national identity and spiritual heritage. Traditional leaders from the Ebrié community have long viewed the instrument as a sacred object used in rituals, communication across distances, and ceremonies its loss during colonial times represented not just material theft but a profound cultural wound.

The repatriation aligns with France's evolving approach to colonial legacies, spurred by Macron's 2017 commitment to examine and return stolen African artifacts. While progress has been gradual due to legal complexities and debates over broader restitution frameworks this case demonstrates concrete action. Similar efforts have seen Benin receive 26 artifacts in 2021, and other nations like Senegal and Madagascar advance claims.

Once back in Ivory Coast, the drum will be permanently exhibited at a new museum under development in Abidjan, the country's commercial hub. Experts have already conducted provenance research, conservation, and restoration work in collaboration with Ivorian specialists to ensure its safe preservation and display.

The event has been hailed by cultural advocates and historians as a step toward healing historical injustices, though many argue it is only the beginning. Ivory Coast continues to press for the return of the remaining items on its list, and wide calls persist for a comprehensive French law to streamline future restitutions.

For communities in Ivory Coast, the drum's return is more than symbolic—it's a tangible reconnection to ancestors, traditions, and pride. As one Ebrié elder reportedly said in anticipation of the handover, the talking drum's voice, silenced for over a century in exile, will once again resonate in its rightful home.