Farīsāt - Gunpowder’s Daughters

Until a few years ago women in Morocco were not allowed to ride horses, and it was therefore unthinkable for them to lead a group of knights and perform tbourida, an equestrian sport that simulates ancient Arab war techniques. For centuries, it was a men's business, tied to the legacy of pre-modern chivalry.

Yet, in recent years female riders across the country have begun to challenge this tradition. By surpassing patriarchal rules, these farisat, are currently writing a new chapter of history and societal norms. Through their persistence, they are paving the way for others and, moreover, asserting women's rightful place in Moroccan cultural heritage. Today there are roughly nine all-female sorbas (troupes) in Morocco. I have documented some of these women across the country, uncovering their stories full of criticism and obstacles, yet united by a single desire: to feel seen and independent.

Among them is Ghita Jhiate who grew up dreaming of becoming a mkadma: a skilled rider and leader of an all-female troupe. Her father, himself a rider, had always prevented her from entering this sport. Only in 2025 she finally realized her dream, riding alongside legend and pioneer Zahia Aboulait. Together they lead their sorba during the renowned Moulay Abdellah Amghar festival, where 120 troupes perform and only three are exclusively made up of women.

Stepping into this arena becomes a radical and political act by rewriting their roles within a society that tries to dictate who they should be. They choose career over family to be able to sustain the cost of the sport by themselves and to live life explicitly on their own terms. Proud and daring, feminine and badass, they remind us that sport, in all its forms, is an endless source of inspiration and resilience.