The sacred drum that served as a powerful communication tool for communities in Ivory Coast has returned to its homeland more than a century after it was seized during French colonial rule.
The massive wooden instrument, known as the djidji ayukui, was seized by French authorities in 1916 and subsequently transported to France, where it remained in museum collections for decades. Her recent return represents an important moment for the restoration of cultural heritage and historical justice. For the Ibri people, the drum is more than just an artifact. It represents a living symbol of identity, tradition and authority, and was once able to send messages across entire communities through sound alone.
The return of the sacred speaking drum
The Djidji Ayokoye artifact was officially returned to Ivory Coast after the French Parliament approved a special law allowing the artifact to be removed from French national collections. The Sacred Drum has been on display in Paris for decades, first in the former Trocadero Museum and then in the Musée du Quai Branly.She arrived in Abidjan on a specially chartered plane and was received by traditional dancers, local leaders and cultural officials at Felix Houphouet-Boigny International Airport.
The cylinder was kept inside a large wooden box marked “fragile” as part of efforts to protect the historic object during transportation.Ivory Coast’s Minister of Culture, Françoise Remarque, described the moment as very emotional and of historical importance.“This is a historic day full of emotions,” she said. “We are experiencing a moment of justice and remembrance that finally marks the return of the Djidji Ayukwe tribe to their original land.”
A traditional dancer welcomes Djidji Ayokoye back to Abidjan.
What is Djidji Ayokoi talking drum?
Djidji Ayukwe, sometimes translated as “tiger lion,” is a huge wooden talking drum more than three meters long and weighing about 430 kilograms. It is carved from Iroko wood, a durable hardwood widely used in West African crafts.Unlike the small talking drums used by musicians, this instrument is designed for communication over long distances. Its powerful voice can travel across wide swaths of land, allowing messages to reach multiple villages.The drum belonged to the Ibri people, an ethnic group historically centered around the area that is now Abidjan, the largest city in Ivory Coast. Within Iberian society, the drum was considered sacred and was closely associated with leadership and community authority.
Why is it called a talking drum?
The name “talking drum” comes from the way the instrument can imitate the rhythm and pitch 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 rhythms. By adjusting rhythm, tempo and pitch, they can convey recognizable phrases and gestures.For communities living across forests and lakes, the drum served as an early communication system.Through specific rhythmic patterns, they can announce gatherings, convey important messages, warn of danger, or summon people to celebrations and emergencies.
Villagers familiar with the patterns could interpret what the drum was “saying” even from a distance.
A celebration marking the return of Djidji Ayokwe’s talking drum.
The drum carries power
Besides its practical use, djidji ayukwe also had a deep symbolic meaning. He represented authority within the community and was closely linked to traditional leadership.The drum was typically used by appointed drummers who were tasked with delivering important messages on behalf of chiefs and elders.
Because of its sacred status, this instrument was not treated as ordinary musical equipment, but rather as a cultural object associated with identity and governance.Its presence in the village indicates unity and organization within the Iberian community.
How the drum was taken during colonial rule
The removal of the drum dates back to 1916 during the period of French colonial administration in Ivory Coast. The French authorities confiscated the tool, fearing its ability to mobilize communities and spread messages quickly.After its confiscation, the drum was eventually transported to France in 1929. There it became part of museum collections documenting African cultures during the colonial era.For decades, the Djidji Ayukwe tribe has remained distant from the community that created it.
Part of a broader movement to return cultural artefacts
The return of the talking drum forms part of a broader international debate about the return of cultural property seized during colonial rule.In recent years, France has begun returning many important artifacts to African countries.
The process gained momentum after French President Emmanuel Macron announced in 2017 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 in European museums. The Djidji Ayukwe artifact is the first of these artefacts to be repatriated.Similar returns have already occurred elsewhere. France has previously returned royal treasures from Abomey to Benin and a historical sword belonging to a Senegalese leader.
A new home for the Sacred Drum
After his return, Djidji Ayokoye will be displayed at the Museum of Civilizations in Abidjan.According to museum director Francis Tagro, the instrument will occupy a central place in the institution’s galleries so that visitors can learn about its cultural importance.“We are very happy and proud to receive this sacred drum,” Tagru said. “It means a lot to us, and it will raise the cultural sense of the younger generation.”For many Ivorians, the return of the drum represents more than just the recovery of a historical artifact. It brings back a symbol of collective memory, and reconnects society with a piece of its cultural heritage that has been absent for more than a century.
