• The Djidji Ayôkwé, a sacred talking drum, has been returned to Ivory Coast from France after being looted in 1916.
• This return is part of France's broader efforts to repatriate cultural artifacts taken during colonial rule.
• The drum will be displayed at the Museum of Civilizations in Abidjan after a month of acclimatization to its original environment.
• Ivory Coast's Minister of Culture described the event as a historic day filled with emotion and significance.
• The Djidji Ayôkwé represents a critical piece of cultural identity for the Atchan people of Abidjan.

The sacred talking drum known as the Djidji Ayôkwé has officially returned to Ivory Coast, marking a historic moment in the realm of cultural restitution. This significant artifact was looted by French colonial authorities in 1916 and eventually made its way to France, where it remained part of museum collections for over a century. Its return is seen as a major milestone, reflecting efforts to address historical injustices and restore cultural heritage to its rightful owners, according to BBC and Africanews.

The Djidji Ayôkwé is not merely an artifact; it is deeply entrenched in the identity and traditions of the Atchan people, who historically used it to communicate across villages. The drum, measuring over three meters in length and weighing around 430 kg, was received with joy during a ceremony attended by traditional chiefs and cultural officials at the Félix-Houphouët-Boigny airport in Abidjan. "This is a historic day with a lot of emotions," remarked Françoise Remarck, Ivory Coast's Minister of Culture, emphasizing the emotional and cultural significance of the return, as reported by Reuters and Le Monde.

The drum will undergo an acclimatization process in a climate-controlled environment before it is displayed at the newly renovated Museum of Civilizations in Abidjan, expected to showcase the cultural heritage of the Atchan people in April. This return represents the first of 148 cultural objects that Ivory Coast has requested from France, and is part of a wider movement for restitution that has gained momentum in recent years, according to India Times and Le Monde.