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| 3 meter long Talking Drum was used to comunicated people in Tchaman area. |
In the presence of great handshakes and cheering, French
government has completed the restoration works of a famous artifact known as
“talking drum” or Djidji Ayokwe in native language to Ivory Coast.
French president, Emanuel Macron announced last year that
artworks and artifacts taken from Ivory Coast by his government during
colonialism would soon be returned.
Talking Drum was the first to return home since 1916. The artifact,
as reported by the locals, was used to warn danger in a village called Tchaman.
It also used to mobilize people for ceremonies and other gatherings because its
sound could go as far as 12 kilometres.
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| The drum had been eaten away in some places by insects. |
“Djidji Ayokwe, was strength of our communities. We were
using it for communication… These white settlers took it away to gain power over
our tribe,” said Mobio Aguego who is the currient Tradional Authority for
Tchaman people.
“Those colonialists could not find anyone in our village,
this made them to realize the power of the drum. The drum could warn us from a
far,” continued Aguego.
The Ivorian government has placed the national treasure it
in the National Museum, located in Plateau, on the former lands of the village
of Adjamé.
Presiden Macron, promised to return all the stolen treasures
to all the African countries as a way of
starting a new relationship with the continent.
