France has returned a sacred 'talking drum' to Ivory Coast, marking another milestone in the European restitution movement that has yet to fully address Ethiopia's claims for artifacts looted during 19th and 20th-century military campaigns.
The drum's return, according to BBC Africa, forms part of a broader process of returning cultural artifacts to African countries that began in 2017. The initiative gained momentum following the 2018 Sarr-Savoy report commissioned by President Emmanuel Macron, which recommended the systematic return of African cultural objects held in French museums.
For Ethiopia, the Ivory Coast case underscores the uneven progress of global restitution efforts. Unlike most African nations seeking the return of colonial-era artifacts, Ethiopia's situation stems from military expeditions and brief occupation rather than formal colonization, creating what many scholars argue is an even stronger moral case for return.
The 1868 British Expedition to Magdala resulted in the systematic looting of hundreds of manuscripts, imperial crowns, religious crosses, and other sacred objects from Emperor Tewodros II's fortress. Many of these artifacts remain in the British Museum and Victoria and Albert Museum in London. The emperor's hair was only returned to Ethiopia in 2019, more than 150 years after his death.
During the 1935-36 Italian occupation, Italian forces looted the ancient Axum Obelisk, a 1,700-year-old granite monument that stood as a symbol of the Aksumite Empire. The obelisk was returned in 2005 after decades of Ethiopian campaigning, demonstrating that restitution is possible when sustained diplomatic pressure is applied.
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The broader African restitution movement has gained significant momentum since the Sarr-Savoy report. Germany has begun returning Benin Bronzes to Nigeria, while British institutions face mounting pressure to address their collections of African artifacts. However, progress remains inconsistent, with some European institutions more responsive than others.
Ethiopia's unique position as Africa's only nation never formally colonized strengthens its restitution claims, as the artifacts in question were taken during specific military actions rather than through colonial administrative processes. This distinction has yet to translate into accelerated returns from British and Italian institutions.
The Ivory Coast drum return signals continued momentum in the European restitution process, but for Ethiopian cultural advocates, it serves as a reminder that many of their country's most significant artifacts remain thousands of miles from home.
