IVORY COAST
A sacred “talking drum” known as Djidji Ayôkwé, taken by French forces in 1916 during Ivory Coast’s colonial era, has been returned after more than a century. The 10-foot drum, which translates to Panther Lion, was exhibited in Paris at the Trocadéro Museum and later at the Quai Branly Museum. The drum's original owners, the Ebrié community, welcomed its return, and a group of local chiefs greeted its arrival at Abidjan International Airport.
Ivory Coast's Culture Minister Françoise Remarck described the return of Djidji Ayôkwé as a historic and emotional day, telling the BBC, "This is a historic day with a lot of emotions."
MEXICO
During the construction of a railway bypass, a 1,000-year-old pre-Columbian town was uncovered, revealing foundations of up to 60 dwellings, a cemetery with 40 human remains, and 28 urns containing ashes. The village, named La Ciénega (The Marsh), was identified by experts from the National Institute of Anthropology and History in the Cocóspera River valley and canyon in Sonora, located 100 miles south of Tucson. These findings offer insights into ancient cultural connections in what is now Arizona.
ITALY
Italy's Culture Ministry recently disclosed the acquisition of a rare painting by the baroque artist Caravaggio for approximately $35 million. The portrait, dating back to 1598 and depicting Maffeo Barberini, a nobleman who later became Pope Urban VIII, will be displayed at Rome’s Palazzo Barberini. This significant purchase marks one of the largest state investments in art.
CANADA
Niagara Regional Chair Bob Gale resigned following the discovery that he owned a signed copy of Hitler’s "Mein Kampf." Anti-racism groups demanded an apology from Gale, who stepped down hours after the revelation. In his resignation letter, he did not explicitly mention "Mein Kampf" but referred to it as "a historical book found in many libraries."
JAPAN
Alpine skier Momoka Muraoka made history by winning a silver medal in the giant slalom sitting race at the Milano Cortina Winter Paralympics, becoming Japan's most decorated winter para athlete. At 29 years old and wheelchair-bound since the age of four, Muraoka has amassed a total of 11 medals since her Paralympic debut in Sochi in 2014.
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