The women hugged each other for good luck. The jitters kicked in as they prepared to go on to the battlefield. But it’s not an enemy they faced, it was the nerves of having to live up to their ancestors' expectations. The expectation that Fantasia must be done vigorously and correctly.
Fantasia (pronounced Fan-taz-ee-uh) has everything you want in a spectacle: speed, power, beauty, and even danger. But while this artform is entertainment for some, it’s a life sustaining tradition across North Africa.
Fantasia struck fear into the hearts of the enemy, while also filling the hearts of locals with power. Both men and women participate in this tradition, and a horse serves as an extension of the artist who creates a vivid picture of North African culture.
Rifles are fired into the air, swords are drawn, and the artists charge toward one another, draped in traditional garb. No matter how dangerous it was, nations across the North African region were willing to put their life on the line to preserve Fantasia, and keep a strong bond with their ancestors.
A culmination of martial arts, ceremonies, and fierceness, Fantasia was more than just a spectacle, it was an extension of the fiery spirit that has existed throughout African culture today. We can all harness the power of our ancestors and use it as an extension of ourselves as we fight towards Black liberation.