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Sacred Talking Drum Returned to Ivory Coast Village After 110 Years
Just the facts
The Djidji Ayokwe, a sacred talking drum belonging to the Ebrie community, was returned to its home village in Ivory Coast after being held in France for 110 years. French colonial troops looted the ceremonial artifact in 1916 during colonial rule in West Africa. Historically, the Ebrie community used the drum to transmit acoustic messages across distances and warn local residents of impending danger. France officially agreed to restitute the artifact to Ivory Coast in February 2026, leading to its physical transfer and reception by local community leaders.
Why this is news
French authorities returned the sacred Djidji Ayokwe talking drum to its home village in Ivory Coast after it was looted by French colonial troops in 1916. The formal return follows a restitution agreement finalized between France and Ivory Coast in February 2026.
Sources
This summary is compiled strictly from the original reporting below.