The Case of the Stolen Għana Tune

Unlikely Criminal Masterminds

It all started in a quiet village in the heart of Mosta, where the tranquil hum of the Rotunda was interrupted by an unprecedented ruckus. Leli, a local għannej celebrated for his melodious contributions to Malta’s folk music scene, woke up to find his most treasured possession had vanished – not his beloved Żaqq (a traditional Maltese instrument), but the tune to his latest għana, which was set to debut at the upcoming festa.

The Investigation Begins

Instead of going to the police, Leli called in the most feared investigator in all of Malta, Is-sinjur Carmel, known for cracking cases faster than you could say “Ċisk!” The first clue: a crumbled piece of paper with a cryptic message, “A tune like honey, makes pockets full of money,” found near the crime scene.

Twists, Turns, and Timpana

Acting on a hunch, Carmel trailed the scent of deceit to Qormi, where the annual ‘Pasta Pie Palooza’ was being held. Disguised as a fervent foodie, Carmel mingled amongst patrons savoring timpana and ħobż biż-żejt.

“I couldn’t believe my ears,” Carmel said. “There it was, Leli’s tune, but not a single voice sang it. It was coming from a mobile phone ringtone!”

Undercover Operations and Sizzling Kuluri

Carmel quickly identified the ringtone culprit – a hip teenager named Dwayne, whose TikTok dance to Leli’s tune was exploding faster than popcorn in a microwave. Confronting Dwayne, Carmel discovered the boy was innocent; he picked up the bewitching melody from the Gozo Ferry, where he heard an old man humming it.

Wasting no time, Carmel sped off to Gozo, chasing the setting sun and the mysterious old man, only to find a twist in the tale. The “old man” was none other than a cunning entrepreneur, Frans, who had secretly recorded Leli’s masterpiece during a late-night għana session and turned it into a ringtone empire.

The Plot Thickens Like Kusksu Broth

Confronted with the evidence, Frans caved faster than a pastizz in a pocket. But he wasn’t alone in this heinous cultural theft. To everyone’s astonishment, Frans had an accomplice—Leli’s own parrot, Polly, who had memorized the tune and serenaded Frans with it during his fateful visit.

“To think, my own bird turned Judas!” Leli exclaimed, as he accepted Polly back, deciding that the feathery fiend’s betrayal was simply a love for music gone too far.

A Twirled Ending

As the tale spread across Malta like the aroma of frying lampuki, Leli’s tune became a symbol of unity and forgiveness. Frans, repentant and humbled, promised to promote Maltese music ethically and even became Leli’s manager to make amends.

“Uwejja, life throws you a ghana, you turn it into a festa,” Leli joked, inspiring chuckles throughout the islands.

So, as the festa’s fireworks painted the night sky, Leli’s għana filled the streets. And while some say crime doesn’t pay, in Malta, it seems it just may lay the foundation for a hit single.

And Remember…

Dear readers, while the town of Mosta may seem calm once more, always keep your ears open for tunes drifting in the wind. Mela, you never know when they might inspire the next sensation—or the return of our beloved Polly gone rogue!