France returns sacred Djidji Ayôkwé talking drum to Côte d’Ivoire

The Djidji Ayôkwé, a talking drum confiscated in 1916 by French administrators, landed at 8.45am on Friday at the airport in Port Bouët on the outskirts of the economic capital, Abidjan. It had been handed over to Ivorian officials in Paris earlier this month after being removed from the Quai Branly – Jacques Chirac Museum.

Sacred and hourglass-shaped, the 4-metre, 430kg drum held cultural and political significance to the Ebrié people as a symbol of resistance. Talking drums are pressure drums designed to mimic the tone, pitch and rhythm of human speech and, before and during colonial times, the Djidji Ayôkwé was used to send messages over several miles to announce deaths or celebrations and, in some cases, alert villages about coming danger.

Aboussou Guy Mobio, the chief of the Adjamé-Bingerville community, said: “After a long stay away from this land, it is returning to its own people and it is an honour for us and a relief to welcome it,.

Côte d'Ivoire, Abidjan

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