HIBAPRESS – A. Sayad
The Ouled Yhya region in the Lakhdar municipality, Safi province, is alive with Tbourida performances, coinciding with the organization of the second edition of the Ouled Yhya Festival. This event aligns with the celebration of the Unity Festival, in an atmosphere that blends pride in national identity with the preservation of Moroccan cultural and equestrian heritage.
This edition features notable changes compared to the first. The organizers chose a larger space adjacent to the main road and established stands for the audience, a step aimed at improving the viewing experience and providing a wider area to welcome Tbourida enthusiasts.
In a statement on the occasion, Ahmed Bin Abdullah, one of the festival organizers, revealed that this edition includes the participation of over 20 Tbourida squadrons, alongside prominent figures in traditional horsemanship, including Charaf Bahraoui, Si Si Kas, and Ait Salem, as well as Nasih Ibrahim, who comes from the Sahara to participate in this event.
The speaker emphasized that the festival is an occasion to celebrate and preserve the heritage of Tbourida, as a living cultural legacy that embodies a facet of Moroccan history and identity, reflecting the deep-rooted connection of the people of the Abda, Hmara, and Doukkala regions to horses and traditional horsemanship.
Regarding public attendance, Ahmed Bin Abdullah estimated the number of spectators who followed the performances on the day he spoke to be around 7,000 people. He expressed his anticipation for increased turnout in the remaining days, noting that expectations for the total number of visitors throughout the festival days reach approximately 40,000 people.
Speaking about the organizational aspect, the speaker explained that holding a festival of this magnitude requires significant financial resources. He pointed to support from one of the region's sons, who preferred to remain anonymous as he did not obtain permission to disclose his identity, with the aim of contributing to the success of this initiative and ensuring its continuity.
Between developing the organization's space, expanding participation, and attracting the public, the second edition of the Ouled Yhya Festival aims to continue developing this local event and strengthening the presence of Tbourida as part of the collective memory and Moroccan cultural heritage.
