Photographer John Horniblow has a major exhibition opening in Beijing. The exhibition, Tbourida: The Fantasia of Morocco, is a series of photographs describing the thunder, smoke and dust, colours, energy and spectacle of the Moroccan Tbourida.
Shot at a number of moussem across Morocco including Moulay Abdellah Amghar, Moussem des Cerises Sefrou, Tissa, Festival du Cheval, El Jadida, and Meknes, the photographs are part of a selection for a pending book publication.
[1]The sorba wait anxiously before forming charge lines (Photograph: John Horniblow)
Tbourida, also known as the ‘Powder game’, is a traditional and popular equestrian art inspired by the historical wartime attacks of the once feared and fiercely brave cavalrymen of Morocco.
[2]A seasoned rider poses stoically atop his horse in the trooping of the sorbas in Seffrou (Photograph: John Horniblow)
The colourful spectacle of Tbourida is a contest of speed, endurance, grace, discipline and manoeuvrability for Morocco’s horsemen and horses. Tbourida is practiced across all rural areas of Morocco to celebrate national and religious moussem (holidays), as part of Morocco’s national culture and the past tribal identity. Tbourida or Fantasia is wildly popular with Morocco’s predominant rural population and troops or sorba can be found all across the country often congregating to celebrate moussem in colourful tournaments lasting for days.
[3]Reflective young horseman, mentally preparing for a pending charge (Photograph: John Horniblow)
John Horniblow’s past work has been referred to as having an understanding of the human connections that are common across the cultures of the world. His work is often shot in close intimacy with his subjects using a style of work that immediately invites the audience into being present in the scene, a style referred sometimes as “candid intimacy,” like a window or invitation into a scene.
[4]A riding mentor offers some advise to a young woman rider in Oued Merzeg (Photograph: John Horniblow)
About John Horniblow
John Horniblow is a photographer, writer and filmmaker who recently moved to Beijing after living for 4 years in Morocco. He is the Founder, Editor in Chief and publisher of the online photo documentary magazine Photojournale.
This article was reprinted with permission from The View From Fez [7], a blog formed in 2005 to promote an interest and understanding of life and culture in the Medina of Fez and in Morocco.