Ivorian Minister of Culture and Francophonie Françoise Remarck and her French counterpart Rachida Dati officially signed the deed of transfer of ownership and carried out the physical handover of the Djidji Ayokwè talking drum to the Ivorian authorities on Friday, February 20, 2026, at the Musée du Quai Branly – Jacques Chirac in Paris.
The ceremony brought together several distinguished figures, including Éléonore Caroit, Minister Delegate for Francophonie, International Partnerships, and French Nationals Abroad, as well as Louise Mushikiwabo, Secretary-General of the Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie. Khaled El-Enany, Director-General of UNESCO, and several members of the Ivorian government were also in attendance.
Françoise Remarck hailed the return as the result of constructive dialogue and active diplomacy. “This return is unquestionably the result of a unique history,” she stated, adding that the restitution aligns with the vision of President Alassane Ouattara and represents a lever for cultural transformation and co-construction with the communities concerned. “Our museum is ready—technically, scientifically, and symbolically—to welcome this talking drum,” she affirmed.
For her part, Rachida Dati described the event as historic, emphasizing that it reflects the shared determination of France and Côte d’Ivoire to renew their bilateral partnership, particularly in the fields of museums and heritage. Éléonore Caroit also expressed her satisfaction: “I am very pleased to take part in the restitution of the Djidji Ayokwè talking drum, a powerful symbol of our relationship with Côte d’Ivoire.”
In Côte d’Ivoire, the return of the Djidji Ayokwè drum is seen as a source of great pride by the Atchan communities, for whom the instrument embodies a profound cultural, historical, and social significance. The libation ceremony, which will mark the drum’s definitive return to its ancestral lands, will take place this Monday in the presence of representatives of the Atchan chieftaincy, including Paulin Claude Danho, Vice-Governor of the Autonomous District of Abidjan—110 years after the artifact left its land of origin.
