Sacred talking drum arrives in Cote d'Ivoire, returning from France after century

The talking drum Djidji Ayokwe, a sacred object of the Atchan people of Abidjan that was confiscated by French colonial authorities in 1916, has returned to its land of origin in Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire.

During an official ceremony on Friday, in the presence of traditional chiefs of the Atchan community and several officials, including the French ambassador to Cote d'Ivoire, Jean-Christophe Belliard, Ivorian Minister of Culture and Francophonie Francoise Remarck received the crate shipped from Paris containing the Djidji Ayokwe.

A spokesman for the Atchan community described the emotional significance of the moment.

"We are deeply moved and honored to witness the return of our legendary drum. In its time, it united the sons and daughters of the Atchan people. This moment is also an opportunity to remind every citizen to value and protect their culture. True development must be rooted in the culture of each people. We thank the State of Cote d'Ivoire for fulfilling the cherished wish of the Atchan community -- the return of Djidji Ayokwe," said Aboussou Guy Serges, spokesman of Chiefs of the Atchan Community in Abidjan.

After an installation ritual conducted by an Atchan chief and a war dance performed by youths from the village of Anoumabo, in southern Abidjan, Remarck welcomed the return of the drum to its land of origin.

"We are witnessing a moment of justice and remembrance that finally marks the return of Djidji Ayokwe to its homeland. The drum will first be placed in a secure location to allow it to acclimatize. After that process, and once final arrangements are made, it will be officially presented before being permanently installed at the Museum of Civilizations of Cote d'Ivoire," said Remarck.

Prominent cultural figures also welcomed the return, describing it as an important step in restoring Africa's heritage.

"The return of Djidji Ayokwe shows Africa's commitment to its traditions and cultural heritage. These artifacts were taken from us, and we have long awaited their return. Today we celebrate a form of justice," said Salif Traore, a UNESCO ambassador.

The drum's return, enacted by a French law in 2025, is part of the process of restituting African cultural property confiscated and transferred to France during the colonial period. It follows the signing in Paris on Feb 20 of the deed transferring ownership and the physical handover of the heritage object between the French and Ivorian authorities.

The Djidji Ayokwe, a ritual wooden instrument measuring 3.3 meters in length and weighing 430 kg, is split at its center and decorated with a leaping leopard. It once served as a tool for community communication, an alert signal and a symbol of authority for the Atchan people.

Sacred talking drum arrives in Cote d'Ivoire, returning from France after century

China's outline of the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-2030), adopted on Thursday, maps out a systematic path toward high-quality development by building new growth drivers through the fostering of emerging and future industries.

In the latest five-year blueprint, the emerging strategic industries China will nurture have been expanded to include new sectors like intelligent connected new-energy vehicles (NEVs) and robotics. It also outlines plans to establish emerging strategic industry clusters tailored to local conditions, each with its own distinctive features and complementary strengths.

Experts suggested that this marks a shift for emerging industries -- from isolated breakthroughs to scaled, clustered development.

"During the 15th Five-Year Plan period, we aim to further promote and expand emerging industries in both scale and quality. The development of industrial clusters is a clear reflection of economies of scale. Building on the existing foundation, this will further sharpen the international competitiveness of our emerging industries. The blueprint's emphasis on new application scenarios and innovative business models will also help steer these industries toward a higher quality of development," said Wei Qijia, a researcher at the State Information Center, which is under China's National Development and Reform Commission.

The plan also identifies key frontiers to reach, including quantum technology, biomanufacturing, hydrogen and nuclear fusion energy, brain-computer interfaces, embodied artificial intelligence (AI) and 6G. Moving beyond mere technological roadmaps, it also stresses the need to build a full-chain incubation system for future industries.

"This forward-looking approach reflects a keen sense of foresight. The plan introduces mechanisms for identifying and monitoring emerging industries and making dynamic adjustments accordingly. If a particular new area or arena shows potential to foster emerging future technologies, it needs to be identified as early as possible. The blueprint's specific references to initiatives such as pilot zones for future industries and research institutes dedicated to their development also signal an important direction in terms of working methodology -- providing clear guidance on how to nurture the industries of the future," he said.

China's five-year blueprint set to foster emerging, future industries