Ask Onix
Sacred drum returns after 108 years
A ceremonial drum, seized by French colonial forces in 1916 and held in Paris for nearly a century, has been repatriated to Ivory Coast. The Djidji Ayôkwé, also known as the Panther Lion, arrived in Abidjan on Friday aboard a dedicated flight.
Journey from seizure to restitution
French authorities confiscated the drum in 1916 during colonial rule. It was later transported to France in 1929, where it was displayed at the Trocadéro Museum before being moved to the Quai Branly Museum in Paris.
The drum, carved from iroko wood, measures over three metres in length and weighs approximately 430 kilograms. It remained in its protective wooden crate, marked "fragile," upon arrival.
Emotional homecoming in Abidjan
Members of the Ebrié community, the drum's original custodians, gathered at Abidjan International Airport to receive it. Traditional dancers and local chiefs participated in the welcoming ceremony.
"This is a historic day with a lot of emotions. We are living through a moment of justice and remembrance that finally marks the return of the Djidji Ayôkwé to its land of origin."
Françoise Remarck, Ivory Coast Culture Minister
Francis Tagro, director of the Museum of Civilizations in Abidjan, announced plans to exhibit the drum "in a place of honour" at the national museum.
"We are deeply happy and proud to receive this sacred drum. It means so much to us; it will elevate the sense of culture for the younger generation."
Francis Tagro, Museum of Civilizations Director
Cultural significance and restitution efforts
The Djidji Ayôkwé served as a "talking drum" for the Ebrié people, used to warn of danger, rally communities for war, and call villagers to ceremonies. The Ebrié community is based in Abidjan, Ivory Coast's largest city.
France formally returned the drum on 20 February after its parliament passed a law authorizing its restitution. It is the first of 148 artifacts Ivory Coast is seeking to recover from France and other countries.
Broader push for repatriation
France has previously returned artifacts to other former colonies, including royal treasures to Benin and a historic sabre to Senegal. On 29 January, the French Senate approved a framework law to streamline the removal of colonial-era items from national collections. The bill is expected to be debated soon in the National Assembly.
