France has returned the historic Djidji Ayôkwé “talking drum” to Côte d’Ivoire, more than a century after colonial troops seized the artifact in 1916.
The extraordinary artifact—more than three meters long—was used by the Ebrie tribe to transmit messages over long distances and will be permanently displayed in a new museum under construction in Abidjan.
Ivorian Culture Minister Françoise Remarck described the handover ceremony in Paris as an emotional milestone, reflecting growing efforts to reclaim heritage taken during colonial rule.
The restitution comes as France prepares new legislation to speed up the return of African artifacts, responding to mounting requests from former colonies.
While only a fraction of looted objects have been returned, the gesture signals a gradual shift in Europe’s approach to colonial-era collections.
