France has officially approved the return of the sacred Djidji Ayôkwé drum to Ivory Coast, marking a major victory in the country’s campaign to reclaim looted cultural heritage.
The decision follows a vote in the French National Assembly on Monday, which confirmed an earlier approval by the Senate in April. The newly passed legislation authorizes the declassification and transfer of the historic artifact to Abidjan.
Known as the “talking drum” for its use in transmitting messages across villages up to 30 kilometers apart, the Djidji Ayôkwé was seized by French colonial forces in 1916. Weighing 530 kilograms and stretching three meters long, the wooden drum had been housed in various French museums and was restored in 2022.
Ivory Coast first requested the drum’s return in 2018. A major breakthrough came in November last year when both governments signed a deposit agreement, paving the way for restitution.
Despite this progress, France has faced criticism for the slow pace of returning colonial-era artifacts. So far, only 27 cultural items have been repatriated, mostly to Benin and Senegal.
Though no specific date has been set for the drum’s return, its journey back to Ivory Coast is now guaranteed—bringing an end to over a century of enforced separation from its cultural roots.
