Fantasia (performance)

Fantasia exécutée à َAïn El Arbaa, dans la wilaya d'Aïn Témouchent, par un groupe de cavaliers photographiés au moment du tir de la salve de fusils.
Fantasia at Aïn El Arbaa (Aïn Témouchent, Algeria).
Fantasia Arabe by Eugène Delacroix, 1833

Fantasia (Arabic: الفانتازيا) is a traditional exhibition of horsemanship in the Maghreb performed during cultural festivals and for Maghrebi wedding celebrations.[1][2] It is present in Algeria, Libya, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Niger and Tunisia.[3][2][4] It is attested in the ancient Numidian times during which it was practiced by the Numidian cavalry.[5][6] Historian Carlos Henriques Pereira stated that the North African fantasia also called barud is a modern watered down version of a Numidian military technique.[7]

Fantasia at the 43rd International Festival of the Sahara in Douz, Tunisia
Fantasia in Morocco

Fantasia is considered a cultural performance and a form of martial art;[8] it also symbolizes a strong relationship between the man (or woman) and the horse, as well as an attachment to tradition.[9] According to Jean-Pierre Digard, it is a watered down version of the Numidian cavalry charge.[10]

Fantasia performances usually take place during local seasonal, cultural or religious festivals, also called موسم moussem "saint's day festival" in Maghrebi Arabic.

  1. ^ Steet, Linda (2000). Veils and Daggers: A Century of National Geographic's Representation of the Arab World. Philadelphia: Temple University Press. p. 141.
  2. ^ a b Talley, Gwyneth (2017). Tbourida: Performing Traditional Equestrianism as Heritage Tourism in Morocco. New York: Springer. pp. 219–240.
  3. ^ Lorenzo, Annie (1988). Cheval et tradition en Afrique du nord. Lausanne: Caracole.
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference :2 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ Recueil ..., Volumes 11-12. Commission des arts et monuments historiques de la Charente-inférieure. Imprimerie Hus.
  6. ^ Journal des haras, chasses, courses de chevaux, des progrès des sciences zooiatriques et de médecine compareée, Volume 47.
  7. ^ Parler aux chevaux autrement: approche sémiotique de l'équitation. Carlos Pereira. Editions Amphora.
  8. ^ Arabies (114-120 ed.). Arabies. 1996. p. 65.
  9. ^ Gwyneth Talley (2017). ""Gunpowder Women: A Generation Galloping Past the Mudawana"". player.fm (Podcast). Tangier American Legation. Retrieved 21 October 2019.
  10. ^ Carlos Pereira (2009). Parler aux chevaux autrement approche sémiotique de l'équitation. Editions Amphora. p. 16. ISBN 978-2-85180-775-5.