A sacred drum that once served as a powerful communication tool for communities in Ivory Coast has returned home, more than a century after it was confiscated during French colonial rule. This massive wooden instrument, known as the Jidji Ayokwe, was taken by French authorities in 1916 and later taken to France, where it remained in museum collections for decades. Its recent return is an important moment for cultural restitution and historical justice. For the Abri people, the drum is more than an artefact. It represents a living symbol of identity, tradition and authority, once capable of sending messages across entire communities through sound alone.
Return of the sacred talking drum
Djidji Ayokwe was officially returned to Ivory Coast after the French Parliament approved a special law allowing the removal of artifacts from France’s national collections. The sacred drum was displayed in Paris for decades, first in the former Trocadero Museum and later in the Musée du quai Branly.It arrived in Abidjan aboard a specially chartered plane and was welcomed by traditional dancers, local chiefs and cultural officials at Félix Houphouët-Boigny International Airport. The drum was placed inside a large wooden box marked “fragile” as part of careful efforts to protect the historic object during transportation.Ivory Coast’s Culture Minister François Remarque described the moment as extremely emotional and historically significant.“It’s a historic day with a lot of emotions,” he said. “We are living through a moment of justice and remembrance that ultimately marks the return of Jidji Ayokwe to his native land.”
A traditional dancer welcomes the return of Djidji Ayokwe in Abidjan.
What is Jidji Ayokwe Talking Drum?
The Jidji Ayokwe, sometimes translated as “Panther Lion”, is a giant wooden speaking drum measuring over three meters in length and weighing approximately 430 kilograms. It is made from Iroko wood, a durable hardwood that is widely used in West African craftsmanship.Unlike the smaller talking drums used by musicians, this instrument was designed for long distance communication. Its powerful sound could travel across large areas of land, allowing messages to reach many villages.This drum belonged to the Abri people, an ethnic group historically based around the area that is now Abidjan, Ivory Coast’s largest city. The drum was considered sacred within Abri society and was closely associated with leadership and community authority.
Why is it called talking drum?
The name “talking drum” comes from the way the instrument can mimic the rhythm and intonation patterns of human speech.Many West African languages are tonal, meaning that the pitch and rhythm of words can change their meaning. Skilled drummers learned how to reproduce these tonal patterns through carefully controlled beats. By adjusting rhythm, speed, and pitch, they can transmit recognizable phrases and signals.For communities living in forests and lagoons, the drum served as an early communication system.Through specific rhythmic patterns it can announce gatherings, broadcast important messages, warn of danger or summon people for gatherings and emergencies. Villagers familiar with the pattern could understand what the drum was saying even from a distance.
Ceremony marking the return of the Jidji Ayokwe Talking Drum.
a drum that had authority
Beyond its practical use, the Jidji Ayokwe also has a deep symbolic meaning. It represented authority within the community and was closely associated with traditional leadership.Drums were generally used by designated drummers who were tasked with communicating important messages on behalf of chiefs and elders. Because of its sacred status, the instrument was not treated as an ordinary musical instrument but as a cultural object associated with identity and rule.Its presence in a village indicates unity and organization within the Abri community.
How were drums taken up during colonial rule?
The removal of the drums dates to 1916, during the period of French colonial administration in Ivory Coast. French authorities reportedly confiscated the device because they feared its ability to organize communities and spread messages rapidly.After being confiscated, the drum was eventually taken to France in 1929. There it became part of museum collections documenting African cultures during the colonial era.For decades Jidji Ayokwe remained away from the community that built it.
Part of a broader movement to return cultural artefacts
The return of the talking drums is part of a broader international debate about the restitution of cultural objects taken during colonial rule.In recent years France has begun returning many important artefacts to African countries. The process accelerated in 2017 after French President Emmanuel Macron announced that African heritage should be able to return to the continent.Ivory Coast has requested the return of more than a hundred cultural objects currently held in European museums. Jidji Ayokwe is the first of these artefacts to be repatriated.Similar returns have already happened elsewhere. France had previously returned royal treasures and a Senegalese leader’s historic saber from Abomey to Benin.
A new home for the sacred drum
Following its return, the Djidji Ayokwe will be displayed at the Museum of Civilization in Abidjan.According to museum director Francis Tagro, the instrument will remain in a central location in the institution’s galleries so that visitors can learn about its cultural significance.“We are extremely happy and proud to receive this sacred drum,” Tagro said. “It means a lot to us, and it will enhance the younger generation’s sense of culture.”For many Ivorians, the drum’s return represents much more than the recovery of a historical artifact. It restores a symbol of collective memory and reconnects a community with a piece of its cultural heritage that was absent for more than a century.