France, Feb. 21 -- France on Friday handed over a "talking drum" looted by colonial troops from Cote d'Ivoirein 1916 in the latest repatriation of stolen artefacts.

The Djidji Ayokwe drum, more than three metres long and weighing 430 kilos was used by the Ebrie tribe to transmit messages.

It is one of hundreds of objects looted by France during the reign of its colonial empire, from the 16th century to the first half of the 20th century that Franceis preparing to send back to Africa.

Last July French MPs unanimously adopted legislationto authorise mass repatriations. The new law was approved in the Senate last month.

French Senate adopts bill to return colonial-era art Return of a symbol

"All of Cote d'Ivoire is ready to welcome it,"...