France Returns Sacred Drum to Ivory Coast

## Sacred Drum Returns to Ivory Coast Abidjan, Ivory Coast – A sacred talking drum, looted by French colonial authorities in 1916, was returned to Ivory Coast on Friday. The repatriation marks the first such act by France to the West African nation and a significant step in a broader movement to return cultural artifacts to their countries of origin. The drum, known as “Djidji Ayôkwé” – meaning “panther-lion” – is over three meters long and weighs nearly 400 kg. It was historically used by the Atchan people to communicate between villages and warn of forced labor recruitment. Confiscated and displayed at the Quai Branly Museum in Paris, the drum’s return follows years of requests from Ivory Coast for the restitution of at least 148 artifacts. The repatriation process involved consultations with Atchan traditional leaders, who performed rituals to lift the drum’s sacred status for restoration and transport. Leaders expressed deep symbolic significance, stating it represents a reclaiming of identity and a missing piece of their history. The drum will undergo acclimatization to Abidjan’s climate before being displayed at the Museum of Civilizations in April.