TAÏGAPRESSE IMAGES

Centaurs of the Sands

Rooted in Moroccan tradition, the Fantasia is a combination of charging on horseback and rifle shooting; though it is highly spectacular, there is more to it. It is above all a warrior game, impressive in itself, of course. It exists primarily to recreate the fighting conditions of yesteryear. The rules alone are a genuine rite.

Thirty thousand horses are bred in Morocco for the fantasias. Four thousand horsemen train and remain prepared for each one of them. This is the regulars' working capital for this typically Moroccan war game. There are others, occasional participants, who just wait to prove their worth and organize their "sorba". . . .

The sorbas are groups of seven to ten riders, whose ages range from fourteen to seventy, since a senior member must be present. They are commanded by a mokhadem whose authority is recognized by everyone. The sorbas are grouped together by ethnic group, or tribe, and they all know each other. In some exceptional cases, the sorbas can include as many as a hundred riders. These are primarily rural people, farmers and mountain dwellers, who sometimes come from very faraway, from the foot of the Atlas Mountains, to participate in the fantasia. Each family has at least one horse, which is only bred for pleasure. Participation in fantasias is far from being paid; it is purely an affair of honor. Fantasias are proof of the "soul of the lord" of those who take part in it. Winning is sublime, but participation is already highly respectable.

Physical and psychological preparation are necessary to participate in the fantasias. When the time comes, after proceeding through ritual ablutions, they are under divine eyes, invoking the protective God, "Al Hafid Allah", without which no Moroccan fantasia could begin.

Full, baggy trousers often tucked into a leather sock, a jellaba, a cape, a turban and a shirt, all generally white, make up the costume of the fantasia horsemen. They symbolically carry a dagger, but the classic weapon of the fantasias is the large, finely damascened Moorish rifle, the mokhala. However, single- or double-barrelled hunting rifles are used more and more. The charges contain black powder, without projectiles. The horses, often grey, are purebreds: barbes and arabarbes. They are appropriately trained as of the age of two. The horsemen are honored to take great care of their horses and are very careful with their food.

Photographer
Patricio Estay
Text
Philippe Barbie de Préaudeau
Country
Morocco
Published
November 2002
Images
59
Reference
010-50001
Rooted in Moroccan tradition, the fantasia, the a combination of charging on horseback and rifle shooting; though it is highly…010_50001_01 Arrival of the horsemen in the city of Fez. They are for the most part rural people, farmers and mountain dwellers, who sometimes come…010_50001_02 Arrival of the horsemen in the city of Fez. They are for the most part rural people, farmers and mountain dwellers, who sometimes come…010_50001_03 Arrival of the horsemen in the city of Fez. They are for the most part rural people, farmers and mountain dwellers, who sometimes come…010_50001_04 Arrival of the horsemen in the city of Fez. They are for the most part rural people, farmers and mountain dwellers, who sometimes come…010_50001_05 Arrival of the horsemen in the city of Fez. They are for the most part rural people, farmers and mountain dwellers, who sometimes come…010_50001_06 Arrival of the horsemen in the city of Fez. They are for the most part rural people, farmers and mountain dwellers, who sometimes come…010_50001_07 Arrival of the horsemen in the city of Fez. They are for the most part rural people, farmers and mountain dwellers, who sometimes come…010_50001_08 A Moroccan rider with his "jellaba" in Fez during the Horse Festival.010_50001_09 In Fez in the middle of a vast stretch of land, the riders set up their traditional tents. They are all aligned around the raceway…010_50001_10 In Fez in the middle of a vast stretch of land, the riders set up their traditional tents. They are all aligned around the raceway…010_50001_11 In Fez in the middle of a vast stretch of land, the riders set up their traditional tents. They are all aligned around the raceway…010_50001_12 In Fez in the middle of a vast stretch of land, the riders set up their traditional tents. They are all aligned around the raceway…010_50001_13 Preparations and care for the horses before the fantasia.010_50001_14 Preparations and care for the horses before the fantasia.010_50001_15 Moroccan barbe horse.010_50001_16 Preparations and care for the horses before the fantasia.010_50001_17 Young Moroccan horsemen in Fez.010_50001_18 A young rider going for a stroll in Fez before the fantasia departure.010_50001_19 The first horses of the fantasia with their traditional harnesses. The bridle is severe, with a large ring on the bit used as a chain.…010_50001_20 A group of horsemen at the fantasia in Tissa.010_50001_21 Traditional Moroccan harness.010_50001_22 Saddle embroidery.010_50001_23 Moroccan rein and bit. The bit has a large ring used as a chain.010_50001_24 Traditional Moroccan knife.010_50001_25 Centaurs of the Sands, image 26 of 59010_50001_26 Moroccan stirrups.010_50001_27 Moroccan horsemen at the fantasia in Tissa.010_50001_28 Traditional Moroccan harness.010_50001_29 Moroccan horsemen at the fantasia in Tissa.010_50001_30 Moroccan horsemen at the fantasia in Tissa.010_50001_31 Moroccan horsemen at the fantasia in Tissa.010_50001_32 Traditional Moroccan harness.010_50001_33 Departure at the Tissa fantasia.010_50001_34 Departure at the Tissa fantasia010_50001_35 Most of the Moroccans who participate in the fantasia wear their traditional "jellaba".010_50001_36 The sorbas are groups of seven to ten riders, whose ages range from fourteen to seventy. They are commanded by a mokhadem whose…010_50001_37 The sorbas are groups of seven to ten riders, whose ages range from fourteen to seventy. They are commanded by a mokhadem whose…010_50001_38 Most of the Moroccans who participate in the fantasia wear their traditional "jellaba".010_50001_39 The sorbas are groups of seven to ten riders, whose ages range from fourteen to seventy. They are commanded by a mokhadem whose…010_50001_40 The sorbas are groups of seven to ten riders, whose ages range from fourteen to seventy. They are commanded by a mokhadem whose…010_50001_41 The sorbas are groups of seven to ten riders, whose ages range from fourteen to seventy. They are commanded by a mokhadem whose…010_50001_42 The sorbas are groups of seven to ten riders, whose ages range from fourteen to seventy. They are commanded by a mokhadem whose…010_50001_43 The sorbas are groups of seven to ten riders, whose ages range from fourteen to seventy. They are commanded by a mokhadem whose…010_50001_44 The sorbas are groups of seven to ten riders, whose ages range from fourteen to seventy. They are commanded by a mokhadem whose…010_50001_45 The sorbas are groups of seven to ten riders, whose ages range from fourteen to seventy. They are commanded by a mokhadem whose…010_50001_46 The sorbas are groups of seven to ten riders, whose ages range from fourteen to seventy. They are commanded by a mokhadem whose…010_50001_47 The sorbas are groups of seven to ten riders, whose ages range from fourteen to seventy. They are commanded by a mokhadem whose…010_50001_48 The sorbas are groups of seven to ten riders, whose ages range from fourteen to seventy. They are commanded by a mokhadem whose…010_50001_49 The sorbas are groups of seven to ten riders, whose ages range from fourteen to seventy. They are commanded by a mokhadem whose…010_50001_50 The sorbas are groups of seven to ten riders, whose ages range from fourteen to seventy. They are commanded by a mokhadem whose…010_50001_51 The sorbas are groups of seven to ten riders, whose ages range from fourteen to seventy. They are commanded by a mokhadem whose…010_50001_52 The sorbas are groups of seven to ten riders, whose ages range from fourteen to seventy. They are commanded by a mokhadem whose…010_50001_53 The sorbas are groups of seven to ten riders, whose ages range from fourteen to seventy. They are commanded by a mokhadem whose…010_50001_54 The sorbas are groups of seven to ten riders, whose ages range from fourteen to seventy. They are commanded by a mokhadem whose…010_50001_55 When the game is over (often at nightfall), the sorbas gather together and go back to their tents in religious silence. The end is to be…010_50001_56 When the game is over (often at nightfall), the sorbas gather together and go back to their tents in religious silence. The end is to be…010_50001_57 When the game is over (often at nightfall), the sorbas gather together and go back to their tents in religious silence. The end is to be…010_50001_58 When the game is over (often at nightfall), the sorbas gather together and go back to their tents in religious silence. The end is to be…010_50001_59
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