A very emotional moment took place this Friday in Abidjan . The sacred drum Djidji Ayôkwé , a cultural emblem of the Atchan people, officially returned to Ivory Coast more than 110 years after its forced removal during the colonial period.

Seized by the French colonial administration in 1916, this talking drum, once used to transmit messages between villages and mobilize populations, had been kept in Paris , notably at the Musée du Quai Branly Jacques Chirac . Its restitution comes after discussions between French and Ivorian authorities regarding the return of African heritage objects.

Measuring approximately four meters in length and weighing several hundred kilograms, the Djidji Ayôkwé occupied a central place in the social and cultural organization of the Atchan communities. A communication tool and symbol of traditional authority, it now represents an important part of the historical memory of the Abidjan region.

The arrival of the drum in the Ivorian economic capital sparked strong emotions among the authorities, traditional chiefs and the people who came to witness this event considered historic.

The Djidji Ayôkwé will soon be exhibited at the Museum of Civilizations of Ivory Coast , recently rehabilitated, in order to allow the public to discover this major piece of national heritage.

This symbolic return marks an important step in international efforts to return to African countries the works and cultural objects taken during the colonial period.