Rabat – The Australian Embassy in Morocco hosted a high-level gala dinner on February 5, at the Story Le Carrousel Hotel in Rabat to celebrate Australia’s National Day.
The event, a key fixture of Australian diplomacy in Morocco, brought together influential Moroccan figures from business, institutions, culture, media, and civil society, alongside long-standing friends of Australia.
“Tonight we’re celebrating the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Morocco and Australia,” Ambassador Damian Donovan told Morocco World News (MWN). “The date is actually July 13, 1976, but it’s also our National Day, January 26, so we’re holding the event close to our National Day, but also celebrating this year as the 50th anniversary.”
He also talked about the event as a showcase of Australian culture: “It’s a good opportunity to bring together Australian performers to showcase a bit of Australian culture, but also Australian food and drink.”
“We’ll have an Australian Indigenous performer here tonight at dinner, one who’s also doing workshops with local schools to share First Nations culture. And people will be able to enjoy Australian barramundi fish, Australian beef—of course, the best in the world—and Australian abalone or mul. So it’ll be a great celebration with our friends and colleagues,” he told MWN.
As speakers said throughout the event, the 50th anniversary milestone between the two countries points to the strength, continuity, and growth of a partnership built on friendship, mutual respect, and expanding cooperation.
The gala also featured the official launch of the commemorative logo marking five decades of bilateral relations, unveiled for the first time by Donovan. The logo was created through an artistic competition jointly organized by the Australian Embassy in Morocco and the Moroccan Embassy in Australia.
Guests were treated to a unique artistic program celebrating cultural diversity and human connections between the two nations.
Dhinawan Baker, an Australian First Nations artist, presented traditional music, storytelling, and spiritual practices rooted in ancestral heritage.
Meanwhile, Julian Belbachir, an Australian-Moroccan musician, showcased a Gnawa fusion, elevating one of Morocco’s most cherished music forms.
Through these performances, the evening celebrated not only Australia’s National Day, but also the role of artistic expression in fostering intercultural understanding and mutual respect.
For the Australian Embassy, the gala dinner served as an opportunity to not only honor the past but look ahead towards deepening cooperation with Morocco, promoting exchanges in human, cultural, and institutional spheres.