Photographer Captures the Turmoil and Splendor of Egypt’s Classic Horse Riding Event

Each year, towns in and around Upper Egypt commemorate religious festivals such as the Mawlid with a spectacular exhibition of astounding skill, bravery, and horse riding known as Al-Marmah. This traditional sport, often referred to as the “game of warriors,” involves riders navigating their horses at rapid speeds, all while wielding long staffs and adorned in flowing jalabiyas. It is a cultural display that has consistently captivated Yasser Alaa Mobarak on both personal and artistic levels.

“Al-Marmah is a tribute to strength and valor,” the Egyptian photographer shares with My Modern Met. “Picture a dusty, open field or a narrow path bursting with sound: drums echoing in a mesmerizing rhythm, voices lifting in chants, and horses charging forward under riders who blend power and elegance effortlessly.”

During his visit to Qena in southern Egypt for the Mawlid, Mobarak felt inspired to pay homage to that whirlwind, rhythm, and beauty through his photography. The resulting images encapsulate Al-Marmah with both intimacy and drama, illustrating men galloping forward with their horses or artfully guiding them through the streets. At times, these moments are illuminated by stark midday sunlight; at others, softened by swirling dust that dims the sky like fog. In any single moment, the atmosphere can fluctuate, and movements can grow hazy with speed or slow down to a trot. It was this very unpredictability and vitality that drew Mobarak in as a photographer.

“What motivated me was the notion that still photography could seize moments of change,” he clarifies. “I aimed to freeze those fleeting seconds: a horse’s hoof lifting, a child’s gaze, the blur of a flute in action. Documenting Al-Marmah felt less like covering an event and more like engaging with a vibrant flow.”

Condensing these vibrant flows into one image is, undeniably, a challenging endeavor. To create these photographs, Mobarak first had to discern the rhythm of his environment and then “begin to flow with it.”

“From a technical standpoint, it required improvisation,” he notes. “I became accustomed to shooting with instinct, pre-focusing, observing the movement, and prioritizing timing over meticulousness.”

However, the greatest challenge for Mobarak was not exposure or composition, but rather proximity. In its fervor and agility, Al-Marmah does not easily allow itself to be targeted. How can a photographer get sufficiently close to riders, especially when they can bolt away on their horses at any moment?

“Capturing Al-Marmah authentically meant getting up close—close enough to sense the earth quiver beneath the hooves, to taste the dust in the atmosphere, to share the intensity of the moment with the participants themselves,” Mobarak explains. “That intimacy came with its risks but also with connection.”

Perhaps that is the reason Mobarak’s Al-Marmah series carries such significance. Each photograph provides a heartfelt insight into the connections individuals have developed through heritage, performance, ritual, land, and, in this instance, horsemanship. Ultimately, that embodies the essence of Al-Marmah, as Mobarak sees it.

“For someone who has never witnessed it, Al-Marmah may appear chaotic—dust, noise, and motion abound. Yet within that chaos, there exists a striking rhythm and reverence: a conversation between human and beast, tradition and the present moment, danger and beauty,” Mobarak concludes. “To me, Al-Marmah symbolizes [that] connection.”

To discover more about the photographer and his Al-Marmah series, visit Yasser Alaa Mobarak’s website.

While in Qena for the Mawlid, Yasser Alaa Mobarak captured striking photographs of Al-Marmah, a traditional showcase of equestrian skill and bravery.

Al-Marmah, often labeled as the “game of warriors,” features riders guiding horses at high speeds, while wielding long staffs and dressed in flowing jalabiyas.

Yasser Alaa Mobarak: Website | Instagram

My Modern Met has granted permission to feature images by Yasser Alaa Mobarak.

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