Colonial-Era Talking Drum Returned by France to Ivory Coast

France has formally returned a culturally significant 'talking drum' that was taken during the colonial era to the Ivory Coast, marking another significant step in the process of returning artefacts to African countries.

The Djidji Ayokwe drum, which was confiscated in 1916 by the French colonial administration from the Ebrie people, was presented during a ceremony on Friday, February 20, at the Musée du Quai Branly in Paris.

This drum, measuring over three meters (10 feet) in length and weighing 430 kilograms (950 pounds), was traditionally employed by the Ebrie community to send messages over great distances.

During the official restitution ceremony, France’s Culture Minister Rachida Dati made remarks, alongside her Ivorian counterpart, Francoise Remarck.

Remarck expressed, "All of Ivory Coast is ready to welcome it," and conveyed her deep sentiment over the drum’s return, stating it was a symbol that is "finally coming back to its homeland". The drum is set to be displayed permanently in a new museum currently under construction in Abidjan, the commercial center of Ivory Coast.

This move occurs in the context of increasing demands for European nations to return artefacts that were taken during the colonial era. France is in the process of returning hundreds of items to African countries and intends to expedite these efforts through new legislation aimed at facilitating broader repatriations.

French national museums contain tens of thousands of artworks and cultural items acquired through robbery or purchase during the colonial period. Nations such as Algeria, Mali, and Benin have officially requested the return of several artefacts.

In recent years, some European countries have begun to gradually return select artefacts as part of broader initiatives to mend ties with former colonies.