Abidjan, July 5, 2025  – The ongoing advocacy by the President of the National Assembly of Côte d’Ivoire, Adama Bictogo, for the restitution of Ivorian cultural artifacts has reached a decisive milestone with the reintroduction, for a new reading at the French National Assembly, of a draft law providing for the return of the “talking drum” Djidji Ayokwê, seized in 1916 during the colonial period.

This solemn vote, scheduled for Monday, July 7, 2025, is the culmination of a long diplomatic process led by Mr. Bictogo as part of an active and structured parliamentary diplomacy. This major breakthrough comes on the eve of his official mission to Paris from July 9 to 14, 2025, during the 50th session of the Parliamentary Assembly of La Francophonie (APF), and marks a symbolic turning point for the memory and cultural heritage of Côte d’Ivoire.

President Bictogo notably raised this issue during a meeting with his counterpart, the President of the French Senate Gérard Larcher, in September 2023, expressing the desire for Côte d’Ivoire to be among the beneficiary countries of upcoming restitutions, while acknowledging the progress made by Benin in this area.

This message was heard and supported by the President of the French National Assembly, Yaël Braun-Pivet, during her visit to Abidjan in April 2023, where she mentioned a framework law on restitutions, announcing that “the famous talking drum will once again sound in Ebrié land.”

The restitution of the Djidji Ayokwê drum is part of the momentum initiated by France following the Sarr-Savoy report (2018) and continues the legislation adopted in favor of returning cultural works to African countries. The bill adopted in April 2025 by the French Senate now formally includes Côte d’Ivoire.

The meeting of the competent commission scheduled for this Saturday, followed by the vote on July 7, marks a historic step in cultural relations between France and Côte d’Ivoire, reflecting a shared commitment to repair and to the valorization of African heritage.

Through this major advancement, President Adama Bictogo seeks to reaffirm Côte d’Ivoire’s position in favor of the restitution of African cultural heritage, within the framework of a respectful interparliamentary dialogue that honors the memory and identity of peoples.