Projet soutenu par Magnum / Prince Claus Fund / AFAC
Publication au NEW YORK TIMES – LENS / CNN / Frankie Magazine / Marie Claire / N by Norwegia
« The horse is part of our family, our culture, and our civilization. »
His Majesty King Hassan II
When Women Reclaim a Warrior’s Legacy.
In a world where equestrian traditions are fading, Morocco keeps its heritage alive through Fantasia—or Tbourida—a spectacular display
of Berber-Arab military art, where riders charge in unison, guns blazing, echoing
the battles of old. For years, this practice was the domain
of men, its danger and physicality excluding women, who were relegated
to the sidelines, their voices limited to the celebratory youyous that greeted
the riders.
of Berber-Arab military art, where riders charge in unison, guns blazing, echoing
the battles of old. For years, this practice was the domain
of men, its danger and physicality excluding women, who were relegated
to the sidelines, their voices limited to the celebratory youyous that greeted
the riders.
But the tide is turning.
A new generation of women—modern-day Amazons—are breaking
the barriers, claiming their place in this once-exclusively male tradition.
Tales of Moroccan Amazons (2014) tells their story: a story of resistance, sisterhood, and cultural reclamation.
the barriers, claiming their place in this once-exclusively male tradition.
Tales of Moroccan Amazons (2014) tells their story: a story of resistance, sisterhood, and cultural reclamation.
This project was born from two revelations:
-Kahina, the 7th-century Berber warrior queen who defied empires and led
her people in battle.
her people in battle.
-Eugène Delacroix’s Orientalist paintings (1832), which captured
the Fantasia’s grandeur during his mission to Morocco—but erased
its female dimension.
the Fantasia’s grandeur during his mission to Morocco—but erased
its female dimension.
Inspired by these threads of history, I set out to document the untold story
of women in Tbourida, focusing on the Farisat Al Hawzia troupe—and in particular, Bouchra and Hanane. What I captured was more than a moment of defiance. It was
the gentle persistence of women who ride for love—love of their horses, their culture, and the sisters beside them. Their story is one of continuity, of a heritage that was never just a man’s world, but a shared one. Tales of Moroccan Amazons is a reminder that traditions are not static. They breathe, they grow, and they welcome those who have always belonged. This is the story of women who ride—not to take a place,
but to remember they were always there.
of women in Tbourida, focusing on the Farisat Al Hawzia troupe—and in particular, Bouchra and Hanane. What I captured was more than a moment of defiance. It was
the gentle persistence of women who ride for love—love of their horses, their culture, and the sisters beside them. Their story is one of continuity, of a heritage that was never just a man’s world, but a shared one. Tales of Moroccan Amazons is a reminder that traditions are not static. They breathe, they grow, and they welcome those who have always belonged. This is the story of women who ride—not to take a place,
but to remember they were always there.
This work is more than a photographic series—it’s a testament to the resilience
of women who refuse to be confined by tradition,and a celebration of a heritage
too often overlooked.
of women who refuse to be confined by tradition,and a celebration of a heritage
too often overlooked.
Tales of Moroccan Amazons is not just about the past. It’s about the future
of tradition—one where women are no longer spectators, but leaders, warriors,
and storytellers.
of tradition—one where women are no longer spectators, but leaders, warriors,
and storytellers.
This is their story. This is our story.
