Riders Fire Gunpowder in Unison for Tbourida or Fantasia Festival in Morocco

Teams of horseback riders in Morocco compete in a traditional event known as “Tbourida.” It’s a showcase of impressive horsemanship, punctuated by firing gunpowder into the air. The custom has its roots in history — 15th-century attacks on Morocco by Spanish invaders, that were repulsed. Over half a millennium later, that victory is celebrated with the equestrian event. Tbourida was recently named part of the “Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity” by UNESCO.