The Tale of the Falcon and the Partridge. (Ṭamacahutt net Sekkurṭ)

The Tale of the Falcon and the Partridge. (Ṭamacahutt net Sekkurṭ)

 One of ancient Berber myths. 

It's a story about a falcon who lived in very tall palm tree for years before a partridge came and nested at the roots of the tree. The falcon knew if he allowed the partridge digging the bottom of the tree, he would lose his home. 

Click here for the original song, by Idir (1979)

O Master of wisdom!
Please, listen and understand…
There is a palm tree in a desert … that reaches high to the sky.
In the top lives a falcon … but the partridge came and nested in the roots of the tree.

The falcon doesn’t know what to do and needs help.

Master “Tel him to consult his children”.

The falcon asked his elder son who replied:

“Father, give it (partridge) to me, I’ll eat it, then I will throw its feathers in the sea”

He replied: "oh, sonny, that’s not good enough! We need smart hunting …

If few swimmers arrived, they’d discover its feathers,

And then all birds would learn… They will say the falcon eats his neighbors”

Then he asked the middle child who replied

“Father, give it to me, I’ll eat it, then I will throw its feathers in a barn”

He replied: “oh, sonny, that’s not good enough! That hunting is not smart …

When the time of harvest comes …. Everyone will go to his barn.
Then the birds will know …. They will say the falcon eats his neighbors”

Then he asked his youngest son who replied

“Father, give it to me, I’ll eat it, I will start with its feather”

He replied: "Well done, sonny, that’s a smart hunting…

Whoever has eaten the partridge, his face won’t be identified
because he passed the napkin over his mouth”

“I will leave, if I die, I have found someone to replace me”