France has returned a sacred “talking drum” looted during its colonial rule in Ivory Coast, over a century after it was taken.
The Djidji Ayôkwé (Panther Lion) drum, carved from iroko wood and weighing 430kg, was seized by colonial authorities in 1916 and taken to France in 1929. It was displayed at the Trocadéro Museum and later at the Quai Branly Museum in Paris.
The drum’s return is part of France’s effort to repatriate African cultural artefacts, a process begun in 2017.
It arrived in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, amidst traditional ceremonies and was welcomed by local dignitaries, including Culture Minister Françoise Remarck.
“This is a historic day with lot of emotions,” Remarck said. “We are living through a moment of justice and remembrance.”
The drum will be exhibited at the Museum of Civilizations in Abidjan, a symbol of Ebrié heritage.
France has also returned artefacts to Benin and Senegal, and is considering a law to ease restitution of colonial-era artefacts.
