The call for papers at Mythmoot V was disappointing. The theme of the conference is “dragons”, and I know nothing original about dragons. Seeing my disappointment, Madame told me something new:
In Kabyle myth, dragons abduct people, like ogres in Europe. The dragon tucks its victim under its wing and flies away. The poor abductee in the dragon’s armpit gradually shrinks as the dragon sucks his life-force away. After a while, he’s reduced to a baby. At the end, he’s absorbed completely into the dragon.
The singer Ait Menguellet used this as a metaphor for life under an oppressive regime. It fits so perfectly that I find myself wondering just how old this dragon-legend really is.
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