France has officially returned the Djidji Ayokwe, a culturally significant 'talking' drum that was taken during the colonial era, to the West African nation of Ivory Coast. The repatriation, which was highlighted by UNESCO, marks a significant step in the ongoing movement to restore artifacts that were taken from their rightful places during periods of colonial rule. This drum has historical importance for the Ebrie people, where it played a critical role in community gatherings, ceremonies, and even as a means of communication during conflicts.

The Djidji Ayokwe was confiscated by French colonial forces in 1916 as part of efforts to suppress local resistance to their rule. After being taken to France in 1929, the drum was housed at the Musée de l'Homme before its eventual relocation to the Quai Branly–Jacques Chirac Museum in Paris in 2006. The handover ceremony, attended by key officials including the culture ministers from both Ivory Coast and France, symbolizes the shift towards acknowledging and correcting past injustices regarding cultural heritage.

This act of repatriation underscores the importance of cultural heritage to national identity and the ongoing efforts by countries like Ivory Coast to reclaim their historical and cultural artifacts. As international attitudes towards colonial artifacts continue to evolve, this return heralds a growing recognition of the need for reparative justice in cultural preservation and heritage management. The involvement of UNESCO in facilitating such exchanges underscores the organization's commitment to restoring cultural heritage for countries impacted by colonialism.