France Repatriates Djidji Ayokwe Drum to Ivory Coast

The Djidji Ayokwe 'talking drum', a significant cultural artifact looted by French colonial troops in 1916, has been returned to Ivory Coast from France. The wooden drum, over three meters long and weighing 430 kilos, was used by the Ebrie tribe to transmit messages. Its official handover on February 20 followed France's parliament approval to remove it from national museum collections. Ivory Coast had requested its return in late 2018 as part of 148 works of art. French President Emmanuel Macron pledged its return in 2021. This repatriation is part of a broader French effort to return African cultural artifacts, with a new law expected to accelerate mass repatriations. The drum will be housed in the newly renovated Museum of Civilisations, Abidjan, after an acclimatization period.