The Acrobats

In Morocco, the acrobats are called "Ulad Hamad ua Moussa" and belong to the brotherhood of the saint "Sidi Hamed ua Moussa". His shrine or marabu is located near the city of Agadir. It is said that the acrobats receive a baraka from this saint so that they will not be hurt during their acrobatic performances. Each year in august, they travel to the moussem of this saint - a religiously motivated festivity to renew their baraka.
 
There are different groups of acrobats which travel across the Moroccan villages. Mostly mothers get in touch with the Mokaddem of the group, the group leader asking him to accept her son and train him as an acrobat. Afterm they'll sign a contract making the mokaddem responsible for the well-being of the boy.
The moroccan acrobats are well-known for their talent and often enticed away from international circuses. Their performances which are accompanied by the rhytms of the bendir vary from backflips to human pyramids.

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