Filá Capitana Baharis brings the Arabic souk to the streets of Xàbia

Last Sunday, Xàbia celebrated a dazzling gala parade to bring the 2024 edition of the spectacular Moors & Christians festivities to a close. Thousands of people witnessed a procession of just over three hours during which the different filaes did their best to surprise and captivate with their colourful and original costumes, complex and artistic makeup, and the mastery of the cabos leading their squads in their traditional marches and sways.

The Filà Capitana BAHARIS put together a spectacular Arab pageantry that emulated the colours and themes of a great Arab souk that welcomes the passage of the Captains for 2024, Txema Bengoa and Amaia Arrausi, and their powerful squads of men and women.

After the last filà mora passed, the great banner of the red-eyed skull of the BAHARIS appeared carried on the back of a camel. Behind it, the talented dancers from Endanza de Xàbia dance academy reminded us of the roots of Filà BAHARIS, founded by a group of Xàbia’s sailors in 1986 and whose name means “sailors” in Arabic.

Next came the royal guard ahead of two powerful performing horses and, behind them, the squads of the youngest members of the Filà and a squad of young girls who have shown, throughout the whole week, their enthusiasm and desire to enjoy themselves to the fullest.

The pageantry changed tone to recreate a great bazaar rich in colours, flavors and, of course, aromas with incense, spices and perfumes intoxicating with their exotic fragrance that clouded the senses and a small souk full of eye-catching exotic objects and authentic steaming tajine. Next, a court of dancers announced the arrival of their lords in front of another beautiful camel carefully decorated for the occasion. After the ballet, a path of fire, which drew arabesque motifs on the ground, illuminated the path of the top representatives of the Filà BAHARIS who made an appearance on top of a intricately designed float. Bengoa and Arrausi received applause from the entire public along the route and the affection of the rest of the festeros.

The official Filà squads closed the pageantry. Its female squad was headed by Andrea Rodríguez Leal and the male team, led by another performing horse, was led by Aaron Serrano Osca.

The rest of the parade happened according to the planned order. The filaes moved quickly to maintain a good rhythm that did not cause large separations between the different music bands. Vanessa Garrido, the Christian standard bearer, started punctually at 7.00pm on the back of a two-headed dragon and greeting the large audience that applauded her passage. Trabuquers, Contrabandistes, Bandoleres, Ballesters, Pirates de Sant Jaume and Faciners paraded behind her. Lucía Serrano, Mora standard bearer, led the Moorish troops, receiving the warmth of the crowd on an Arab carriage. The Filaes Xibia, Touaregs, Almoriscos, Almoradins, Al-Tarik’s and Schaitans followed behind.

Holding two days of gala parades sharpens the ingenuity and desire to surprise by the xabiera filaes that introduce different elements in order to energize the event. Thus, the different troupes opt for changes in costumes, different makeup on both days, more musicians on Sunday in order to dazzle and bet on the most colourful and triumphant parade as possible, on its second and last day.

And, on the occasion of its 25th anniversary, the Filà Schaitans commemorated the anniversary by emulating some of the milestones that have marked its history and Captaincies with colorful pageantry during Saturday’s gala parade.