Ahmed Mokhriby was born on January 1, 1909 in rural farmlands, 45 miles south of Essaouria, Morocco.  His birth marked the beginning of a remarkable life; one that would take young Ahmed on a nomadic journey, beginning at a young age when he ran away from home.  Chronicled below are the unique highlights of Ahmed Mokhriby's life.

Tragedy marks Ahmed's life early when at the young age of three, his mother was killed inadvertently by someone who was trying to assassinate his father. Ahmed's father was a regional marshall and a territorial feud prompted the assassination attempt on his life. While working on his father's farm, the conditions became intolerable for young Ahmed. As a result of his home life, at the age of ten, with no money and only the clothes on his back, Ahmed decided to run away. One can imagine how easy it would be for a young, homeless boy to fall prey to unscrupulous plans of exploitation. Such was what happened to Ahmed. A man befriended him with promises of work in a traveling carnival as a musician and dancer. Ahmed was excited at such a prospect, and he was subsequently given work in the carnival. It didn't take too long for Ahmed to soon realize that his friend had betrayed his trust and had actually made a profitable deal with the owners of the gypsy carnival. What unquestionably transpired was that Ahmed had been "sold" to work for the carnival, not as a performer but such like an indentured servant. Although Ahmed left home due to living conditions, his life in the circus was equally as hard for the young man. But the stronger fear of the wrath of his father was the reason Ahmed remained with the carnival for several years longer. Eventually, Ahmed abandoned his harsh life and returned to Marrakech. Besides being an attraction for performers and entertainers, Marrakech was far enough geographically from Essaouria that Ahmed could live without worry that he would be found by his father and taken back to his previous harsh farm life.

Ahmed soon found work in a café' located in the famed Square DJEMAA EL FNA in Marrakech. The Square is well known for attracting performers and artists. It was not long before Ahmed's ability to effectively oversee café' operations became evident and he was promoted to a new position ? that of manager. While the job was good, Ahmed's daily exposure to the troupe of circus performers and artists continued to pique his interest. His desire to become a musician and dancer became even stronger than ever before. When an opportunity came his way, he joined the Royal Order of Sidi Hamad Amousa, an acrobatic troupe! This is what marked the beginning a new career for Ahmed.

Because Ahmed had worked in a café prior to joining the troupe, he was quickly designated as the troupe cook. He now had the responsibility of cooking the daily meals for the troupe even though he had no prior experience in cooking while working at the café in Marrakech. Every evening when no one was in the vicinity, Ahmed would practice over and over again in an attempt to execute the same movements he saw the acrobats perform during that day's performance. What was an unfortunate incident for one of the acrobats became an opportunity for Ahmed. When the acrobat sustained an injury, it left an opening for a performer. Ahmed stepped up and offered to substitute for the injured troupe member. After that first performance the manager of the troupe was so impressed with Ahmed's performance that he offered Ahmed a permanent position to perform with the troupe. Although Ahmed became an acrobat, he continued to cook for the troupe, as well. The troupe was not about to give up their cook! In addition to cooking and performing for the troupe, Ahmed's skills at designing and creating costumes for the members became an additional responsibility.

Ahmed, now a 16-year old self-taught acrobat, found himself in Europe. He began working with a group of performers, Papa Hadji's Acrobat Troupe, and continued, for the next ten years, to perform in all of the major circuses throughout Europe, Russia, North Africa and the United States. Besides the Ringling Brothers Barnum and Bailey Circus of the United States, a few of the other great circuses included the great Moscow State Circus of Russia, Circus Renz and the Busch Circus of Germany. Ahmed soon became one of the top acrobats in the world, as well as the youngest person to manage the troupe.

Ahmed recalls the day in Italy when he did a handstand, on a dare, on the inner rail of the Leaning Tower of Pisa ? ten stories above the ground ? with no safety equipment of any type. He later learned that what he thought were pigeons on the ground below, were in reality, people ? people watching him. Thinking back, Ahmed realizes that it was foolish, youthful confidence that allowed him to perform such a stunt.

Even though years of physical and geographical isolation from his father occurred, Ahmed maintained a connection with his father by writing letters and continuously providing what monetary support he could manage. It was not until Ahmed was 21 years of age before he returned home to re-connect in person with his father. It was a rewarding reunion as Ahmed's father was later assassinated for political reasons when working for the French Colonizers.

In 1935, while working a circus in Frankfort, Germany, Ahmed's life was about to take a sudden change in direction again. One evening while attending a performance of the Manhardy Ballet, Ahmed's eye caught the beauty and movement of one of the graceful dancers performing on stage. Although there was a hint of recognition, Ahmed could not recall why the female performer seemed to strike a special chord with him. After the show, Ahmed was determined to meet this young female performer and talk with her. It was during that meeting back stage after the performance, that Ahmed learned that the female performer was Fatima, the daughter of an acquaintance from many years ago. As the story goes, Fatima's father, who was one of Ahmed's earliest trainers, used to joke with Ahmed when he was just a lad of sixteen years. Fatima was only seven years old when her father bragged to Ahmed that he had two daughters, and would Ahmed like to marry one of them? Ahmed to this day, still jokes that he "was promised" one of the daughters. It could only be fate that enabled Ahmed and Fatima to meet many years later! After a few meetings, Fatima and Ahmed were engaged. Plans for a wedding were postponed; however, while Ahmed left to travel with the Dimnati acrobatic troupe in a tour of the United States with the Ringling Brothers Barnum and Bailey Circus.

Soon after the circus season ended in 1936, Ahmed wed Fatima Bent Boujema, in Milan, Italy. Born into a family of performers, she was a member of the Manhardy Ballet in Frankfort, Germany. She was a perfect match for Ahmed they not only became marriage partners, but show partners, as well.

Now married, Ahmed no longer wished to continue with big circus life. Instead, he formed acts with only four to seven people incorporating his wife into the mix. Additionally, for a period of time the act also included the performance of Fatima's sister, Aischa. Ahmed and Fatima learned from each other, combining their talents, to create a spectacular show of acrobatics and dance. They performed for the next 15 years in major theaters and resorts throughout Europe (i.e., Italy's leading opera house, LaScala; Moulin Rouge in Paris, France; the famed Wintergarten in Berlin, Germany) until they immigrated to Erie, Pennsylvania in 1951. Ahmed and Fatima continued to perform, as a duo, in clubs and theaters, until 1953 when they retired from show business.

However, that was not the end of the couple's working careers. Ahmed worked at Marx Toys for 17 years, and then owned and operated Baskin Robbins Ice Cream Store in Erie, PA for 14 years. Fatima retired after 30 years of service as a nurse with Hamot Hospital. However, transitioning to "civilian" life was not easy. "Performers," said Ahmed, "live in their own world. It's very hard to come out of something you have done your whole life. It's like going into a strange country." Even though the adjustments they made were difficult, their tenacious natures brought them success and a new way of life. When Ahmed is asked about how he ended up in America, he often responds with "It was all about a coyote." As Ahmed's recalls, he was herding the sheep and goats in the pasture as a young boy, when a coyote suddenly killed one of the sheep. Because of the fear of repercussion from his father over the loss, Ahmed fled the farm. And that incident marks the beginning of his remarkable journey and life story.

During this time, the couple also raised four children: Aischa, Abdel Kadir, Abdullah, and Jamma. Abdullah resides in Erie, Pennsylvania; Jamma resides in Penrose, Colorado with his wife and five children; Aischa passed away in Paris at the age of two; and Abdel Kadir succumbed, at the age of 25, to injuries sustained in an automobile accident while serving with the United States Army.

Ahmed and Fatima, after long and diverse careers, retired to the circus town of Sarasota, Florida, taking with them a lifetime of memories which include Ahmed performing in the presence of Hitler, Mussolini, and King Victor Emmanuel III of Italy, to mention only a few. Ahmed opened the show at Madison Square Garden when he was performing with the Ringling Brothers Circus. Ahmed once interpreted for General Patton while he was in Morocco during World War II ? the perfect choice because he is multi-lingual, speaking nine languages. Another time Ahmed had the opportunity to perform for a special benefit at the request of the Queen of England. Both Fatima and Ahmed worked with greats such as The Flying Wallenda's, Clowns Emmett Kelly and Lou Jacobs, trapeze artists, Lillian Leitzel and Alfredo Cordona, Maurice Chevalier, and Josephine Baker.

Ahmed and Fatima celebrated 60 happy and fruitful years together in a world that most of us would never have the opportunity to experience. Sadly, Fatima passed away in 1994. Ahmed now resides at Westlake Woods in Erie, Pennsylvania.