Tbourida

Besides the great variety of the territory and climate of the diffe- rent regions of Maghreb, including all the countries of North Africa, the name ‘Tbourida’ comes from the Arabian dialect word ‘baroud’, which in the Berber language translates ‘tafrawt’, it is a popular tra- ditional art resulting from very old ‘Berber’ traditions following the appearance of the horse whose history recalls the great rides across the Numidian country, the former Berber Kingdom located on both Algeria and Tunisia, including Libya and Morocco - namely, the founding countries of the great Berber people of today whose most iconic personality is later King Masinissa (230 b.C. 148 b.C.). Initial forms of gathering take place mostly in rural areas during the 17th century, followed by equestrian developments with riders wearing fine ‘caftans & burnous’, a shoulder belt with an ancient dagger in- side, a large colored shawl and well-wrapped turbans around their heads with the colors of their own region. If the warrior spirit has disappeared, the tradition has not as of yet; it continues to live on throughout the holiday - at a time when each village of the coun- tryside puts in place its own ‘sorba’. During the Tbourida, riders are committed to a superior army ethic, their pride is showing off their ancestral ability with their rifles and silver chiseled powder flask, they want to prove their dexterity at full gallop amidst a thousand explosions of colors, whilst the horses are adorned with superb har- nesses, at the same time, they come to represent the pride of their own region by performing a quasi military parade, which stems from ancestral ‘arab-amazighs’ rituals. The tradition of the Tbourida is most alive in the center of the Kin- gdom as well as in the south where the riders who are performing in local ‘sorbas’ are often all dressed in the blue gandouras, particularly the riders from the Guelmin region, also known as ‘the door of the desert’. While handling their rifles with skill, they do not shoot up in the air but down on the soil, as determined by an old practice that comes with an ancient warriors’ belief that ‘the enemy can hide under the sand and not in the mountains’. Beyond the various folkloristic elements, the Tbourida remains today an important part of Moroccan cultural heritage, in most provinces it is a real vector of ‘social actions’ that rein- force the major cultural identities of the Kin- gdom by celebrating religious festivals, civil celebrations, weddings, etc. It is the story of a timeless encounter between man and horse, mainly the Berber horse or Arab-Berber horse, a specific breed of North Africa. Both Berber and Arab-Berber horses are actors of vital im- portance for the country’s ecosystems, whether used during many practical or leisure activities, the Tbourida or even sports activities, they are key players to maintain secular traditions. Two breeds that remain anchored deep in the hearts of all Moroccans, mainly breeders who- se passion remains sacred, it has been handed down from generation to generation as a proof of an old-age impressive practice that has tran- sformed into a sports discipline over the centu- ries with its own specific codes and regulations for ‘hadda’ and ‘tbourida’ – both are placed un- der the supervision of the Moroccan Equestrian Federation with the support of S.O.R.E.C. For a long time, such a discipline has been stri- ctly reserved for men who take part in war-ga- me exercises to surprise the enemy, since 2005 – notwithstanding a deep-rooted machismo of the male population of the time, which seems to be completely unaware of legendary ‘warrior amazons’ like the Queens Kahina and Zeina, the ‘womanization’ of the discipline has taken place with the beginning of the ‘moussems’ thanks to the late Royal Highness – Princess Lalla Amina, the then President of the Royal Moroccan Equestrian Federation, who mana ges to give shape to the dreams of many bre- eders; in current gatherings these ‘women’s sorbas’ are very active. The most important Moussem Festivals also known as ‘waada’ are essentially devoted to the cultural tradition of this practice, there- fore, it is worth mentioning the ‘ Tan-Tan Moussem, which is now part of Unesco World Intangible Heritage Site, it brings together the amazing nomadic tribes of the Sahara along with their ancestral traditions and customs every year, a program rich in diversity and attractions with musical en- tertainment, Berber dances and songs, pre- sentations about medicinal plants etc. Equally important for its intense activity, the ‘ Moulay Abdellah Amghar Moussem’ is a legendary gathering that has been cele- brated for hundreds years in the Kingdom, straight after the harvest period when all the ‘sorbas’ want to take part. The last edition registered no less than a hundred troops with nearly two thousand five hundred horses, being it considered as a sanctuary, the stronghold of the largest tri- be of Morocco, its members, ‘Doukhala, are ancient warriors who are said to have un- paralleled breeding skills as regards Berber horses, and live in the surroundings of El Jadida also called ‘the city of tents’. A magical rendezvous, not to be missed in El Jadida that is not only the capital of the horse in Morocco, but also an important agricultural region with its famous venue for the ‘exchange of seeds’, an event that la- sts seven days with more than six hundred thousand visitors, including a large number of foreigners and journalists from around the world who come here to attend this colossal event, falconry is also on display during this extraordinary and memorable festival.In such a land where equine production has gone on for hundreds years, the Sovereign has made El Jadida the equestrian capital that it is today by commanding the creation of the Salon du Cheval held in October every year, it is worthwhile visiting the Regional Stud of El Jadida as it has been entirely rebuilt into a modern facility housing nearly four hundred breeders’ purebred Arabian horses both for ra- ces and competitions; not to mention the Pyramid Society Morocco Association that every year organizes a very beautiful competition for its sixty members with Straight Egyptian horses, the most impor- tant reproducers for the preservation and continuity of these precious bloodlines. Nowadays, the Tbourida is recognized as a sport discipline in its own right, the Equestrian Federation of the country has set up an intense program of two regional competition zones with classes open to Junior and Senior riders, winners have access to a pre-selection at Inter-regional levels for the Hassan II Trophy in Dars Es Salam, which precedes the Mohammed VI Grand Prix, one of the main highlights of the Salon du Cheval d’El Jadida, - an equestrian event that stays etched in mind forever and that owes its success to Dr. Med. Vet. Ali Younès Abbassy and all his Team. All the most important Schools of Tbourida in Morocco take part into it: the Nassiriyah School, the Charkoulyah School, the Khiyatiyah School and the Hayaniyah Schools, many of them have inherited a fascinating secular art and are held responsible for its continuity. In peace time, the Tbourida is a highly professional sports activity with its own codes and principles that allow all generations to go backwards in time in the most remote provinces of the Kingdom, participant ri- ders also get significant prize money at these events. As a main an expression of secular cultural and historical traditions of the peoples of Morocco, the Tbourida is now going through much international debate for an application and subscription to UNESCO Intangible Heritage. In view of the 13th Salon du Cheval d’El Jadida, we hope there will not be any problems there as it has been for many orga- nizers in Europe, as well in Paris-Nord Villepinte-France that will change Operator in 2020.