Powder Game, Tbourida : Horsemen and Horses of the Moroccan Fantasia

The Powder Game – Tbourida : Horsemen and Horses of the Moroccan Fantasia Tbourida, also called ‘Powder game’, is a flurry of horses, riders, bright colours, dust and gunpowder smoke in simulation of a cavalry based military charge. A troop of horse riders (sorba), wearing richly embroided and colourful traditional clothes, charge their decorated horses along a straight path at the same speed so as to form a line with the purpose of finishing the charge by firing their muskets into the air at the same moment. This is a contest of speed, endurance, grace, discipline and manoeuvrability. A difficult performance, requiring great horsemanship and skill in synchronizing the movement of the horses during acceleration of the charge, drawing the line of the charge up at one single point, halting just metres ahead of deep ranks of spectators to fire their muskets simultaneously, so that only one single resounding retort is heard. Tbourida is a traditional and popular equestrian art inspired by the historical wartime attacks of the fiercely brave cavalrymen of Morocco. The colourful spectacle of Tbourida and its horsemen and horses, adorned in colorful tribal ceremonial dress, is widely practiced across all rural areas of Morocco to celebrate national and religious moussem (holidays), and forms part of the national cultural and recently passed, tribal identity of the country.