A sacred drum looted by French forces during colonial rule in Ivory Coast has been returned to the country, more than a century after it was taken, according to BBC News. The drum, called Djidji Ayôkwé, was seized by colonial authorities in 1916 before being taken to France in 1929, where it was displayed at the Trocadéro Museum and later at the Quai Branly Museum in Paris, BBC News reports. The drum was officially handed back by Paris on 20 February after the French parliament passed a special law authorising its restitution, BBC News states.
The specific details of the special law passed by the French parliament for the restitution have not been disclosed. The drum arrived aboard a specially chartered plane but was not removed from its large wooden crate marked 'fragile', BBC News notes. It was welcomed home by members of the Ebrié community, its original owners, BBC News reports.
The Ebrié ethnic group are based in Abidjan, Ivory Coast's largest city, according to BBC News. A traditional dancer and a local chief were present at Abidjan International Airport to receive the drum, BBC News states. The drum is more than three metres (10 ft) long, weighs about 430kg (68 stone), and is carved from iroko wood, BBC News reports.
The drum is a central piece of Ebrié heritage, traditionally used to warn of danger, mobilise people for war, and summon villages to ceremonies, according to BBC News. The return is part of a wider French effort to repatriate African cultural artefacts, a process that began in 2017, BBC News states. France has already returned some of the Abomey royal treasures to Benin and a historic sabre to Senegal, BBC News reports.
The talking drum is the first object on a list of 148 works that Ivory Coast is seeking to have returned from France and other countries, according to BBC News. The full list of 148 works that Ivory Coast is seeking to have returned has not been made public. ' Who specifically made the statement about 'justice and remembrance' has not been identified.
How the drum was looted by French forces during colonial rule remains unclear. Future plans for displaying or using the drum in Ivory Coast have not been detailed. The restitution process, which began with the parliamentary vote in February, culminated in the drum's arrival in Abidjan, completing a significant chapter in the ongoing dialogue between France and its former colonies regarding cultural heritage.
The drum's return involved logistical challenges due to its size and weight, requiring careful handling during transport, BBC News notes. The Ebrié community has long advocated for the drum's repatriation, viewing it as a vital symbol of their cultural identity and history, according to BBC News. The French government's restitution efforts are part of a broader international movement to address colonial-era cultural looting, with similar initiatives underway in other European countries, BBC News reports.
The drum's significance extends beyond its physical attributes, serving as a reminder of the colonial past and the ongoing efforts to reconcile historical injustices, BBC News states. The process of returning the drum included consultations between French and Ivorian officials to ensure proper protocols were followed, though the specifics of these discussions have not been disclosed, according to BBC News. The drum's arrival in Abidjan was met with celebrations, including traditional performances and speeches highlighting its cultural importance, BBC News notes.
The restitution has sparked discussions about the future of other looted artefacts still held in museums abroad, with calls for increased transparency and cooperation in repatriation processes, BBC News reports. The drum's return is seen as a step toward healing and recognition for communities affected by colonial-era dispossession, though challenges remain in addressing the full scope of cultural losses, according to BBC News.