Mimouna Festival
16 April 2023
The night is traditionally when Jewish Moroccans buy back their flour at the end of Pesach, which is an excellent excuse to invite all their neighbours; Muslim, Berber and Jewish, to eat together, share stories and celebrate.
The BMS partnered with the JW3 Jewish centre in Finchley to host an interfaith Mimouna.
BMS members had the chance to meet new people as they cooked together, led by expert chef, Fabienne Viner-Luzzato. Whilst enjoying their meal, guests were treated to live music and the opportunity to co-create a piece of art with poet and visual artist Sophie Herxheimer.
Alice Morrison – Walking with Nomads
5 April 2023
Scottish adventurer Alice Morrison came to the National Liberal Club to talk about her new book.
In 2019, Scottish Adventurer, Alice Morrison, set off to walk across Morocco and the Sahara with her six camels and three Amazigh guides. Their epic journey took 7 ½ months and they covered over 4000km. It was an expedition full of discoveries from a lost city to dinosaur footprints. The team dodged landmines and quicksands and did the final part of their trek under the shadow of Corona. Throughout, they were welcomed and supported by the nomads of the mountains and the desert and witnessed how life for this oldest of societies is changing forever as climate change and the modern world encroach.
On 5th April, we were delighted that Alice came from her home in the Atlas Mountains to the National Liberal Club and we hosted a reception with members where Alice talked about her adventure, which inspired her latest book, Walking with Nomads.
2023 Iftar
3 April 2023
Members and friends enjoyed an iftar meal together at Noura Brasseries in London. This was a wonderful opportunity to celebrate Eid with members of the BMS and the Moroccan-British community in London, and we were very happy to also welcome 5 new members to the BMS following the event.
Talk with Hamza Taouzzale, Lord Mayor of Westminister
3 March 2023
BMS members enjoyed the opportunity to hear from Hamza Taouzzale, Lord Mayor of Westminister, in conversation with Dr Ali Bahaijoub, Vice President of the British Moroccan Society. At 22 years old, Hamza took up the prestigious title of The Right Worshipful Lord Mayor of Westminster – the first Muslim, first person of a minority ethnicity and youngest councillor to do so. He is also a proud British-Moroccan.
This was a unique opportunity to hear Hamza speak about his journey to becoming Lord Mayor of Westminster, in particular for our younger members. Hamza spoke in conversation with our Vice President Dr Ali Bahaijoub, who talked about his latest book.
Marrakech Gala Dinner
11 February 2023
What a spectacular night! BMS members, golfers, the Committee, Trustees and guests of honour including British Ambassador in Morocco and Patron of the BMS, Simon Martin, as well as two students from rural Morocco whose education has been supported by the BMS, gathered in Es Saadi hotel for a Gala Dinner celebrating the relationship between Morocco and the UK and the work being done by the British Moroccan Society throughout the country. It was a very special moment to bring together members of the Moroccan and British community here in Marrakech for such a memorable evening.
BMS Marrakech and Atlas Mountains Trip 2023
9 – 12 February 2023
Running concurrently with our Golf Trip, we held the annual BMS members trip. After a number of years without trips due to COVID-19, this trip was particularly special. The highlight of the trip was the opportunity for members to visit a number of the small associations in the Atlas Mountains supported by the BMS, where they had the chance to see the impact that membership, donations and attendance at BMS events has at the grassroots level. BMS members on the trip joined the golfers for the Gala Dinner at the Es Saadi Palace Hotel on 11 February.
BMS Golf Tour
9 – 12 January 2023
The BMS Golf Trip was a huge success. Golfers had the opportunity to visit a number of BMS-supported associations in the Atlas Mountains, as well as two rounds of golf at truly stunning locations – Al Maddan Golf Resort and Royal Golf Marrakech. The trip finished with a spectacular Gala Dinner at the Es Saadi Palace Hotel.
Dr Corisande Fenwick Talk on Volubilis
25 January 2023
The BMS kicked off 2023 with a fantastic talk from Dr Corisande Fenwick about her research work on the ancient Roman site of Volubilis – the largest and most important Roman ruins in Morocco. Dr Corisande discussed her most recent discoveries and exciting finds at the National Liberal Club. The event was very well attended by both new and long-time BMS members.
2022 AGM and Christmas Social
21 December 2022
We held our annual AGM at the National Liberal Club. The Committee were happy to welcome both existing and prospective members to this event which was followed by festive drinks and networking.
Marrakech English Book Festival
25 – 27 November 2022
2022 saw the inaugural Marrakech English Book Festival take place in Marrakech, co-hosted by the British Moroccan Society. The festival was a celebration of Marrakech and Morocco as an inspiration for all genres of books published in the English language.
Young Members Event – Joint with Kings College London North African Society
27 November 2022
King’s College London’s North African Society jointed with the young members of the British Moroccan Society to watch the screening of the World Cup game between Morocco and Belgium
Moroccan Wine Tasting
23 November 2022
BMS 2022 Gala Dinner
8 November 2022
Talk on Jewish Music in North Africa
6 October 2022
Members enjoyed a sociable and fascinating evening learning about Jewish Music in North Africa from Dr Vanessa Paloma Elbaz from Cambridge University. Vanessa has an international performance career as a singer of Moroccan Jewish repertoires and has been described as “a kind of one-woman roving museum of her own” by The New York Times. In 2014, Vanessa founded KHOYA: Jewish Morocco Sound Archive to collect, digitize, classify, and analyze contemporary and historical sound recording of Moroccan Jews.
Young Members Autumn Meetup
3 October 2022
In the third of the BMS’s new Young Members series, young BMS members and interested potential members enjoyed a night of bowling, networking and meeting friendly like minded young people at QUEENS in Queensway. This was a sellout event and the BMS is delighted to see our young member base growing.
End of Summer Social and Fundraiser
27 September 2022
Guests enjoyed a wonderful night of delicious Moroccan food, socializing and dancing, all raising money for our charitable giving programme in Morocco. The Committee and Trustees would like to thank Vanessa Branson for hosting this lovely evening, DJ Nayma Bouanani for the excellent Moroccan music and Inaam Mouden for the Moroccan food.
Summer Social
14 July 2022
Young Members Meet Up
14 June 2022
The British Moroccan Society were pleased to organise their second event for Young Members. We met at QUEENS in Queensway, London for a bowling session, networking and the opportunity to meet friendly like minded young people.
2022 Iftar
21 April 2022
BMS members and friends met at Noura Restaurant in London to share an iftar meal. DJ Naima was there to play traditional Morocco music. All proceeds of the event went towards supporting our charitable giving programme in Morocco. This was a great opportunity to socialise with members over delicious Lebanese food.
Fiona Valpy – The Storyteller of Casablanca
1 April 2022
On 1st April, bestselling author Fiona Valpy spoke at the National Liberal Club about her new book “The Storyteller of Casablanca.” Fiona is an acclaimed number 1 bestselling author, whose books have sold over two million copies and been translated into more than twenty-five different languages worldwide.
Morocco Now Gala Dinner
22nd March 2022
Morocco Now Gala Ginner in honour of His Excellency Mr. Mohcine Jazouli Minister Delegate in charge of Investment, Convergence and the Evaluation of Public Policies and Mr Andrew Morrison MP and UK trade envoy to Morocco and former minister of state at the foreign office hosted by the British Moroccan society and sponsored by AMDIE in the presence of the Moroccan and British ambassadors Mr. Hakim Hajoui and Mr. Simon Martin and entertainment provided by DJ Nayma Bouanani at Cariton Tower (Jumeirah) London
Young Members Meet Up
8 March 2022
The British Moroccan Society was delighted to host its first ever Young Members Meet Up on 8th March at Flight Club in Bloomsbury in London.
The event was a wonderful opportunity for young members to meet and network, as well as for young people interested in joining the BMS to come along and meet our younger membership.
The evening started with a non-alcoholic welcome cocktail, followed by a fun (and friendly) competition around a game of darts.
We would especially like to thank our newest committee member, Omar Oualili, for organizing and hosting the event.
AGM 2021
14 December 2021
The BMS held the annual AGM at the National Liberal Club, followed by a talk by Professor James Brown
Moroccan Trilogy Book Launch with Barnaby Rogerson
1 December 2021
Our December talk was held at the beautiful National Liberal Club, and included a talk followed by a Q&A with Barnaby Rogerson about his latest publication.
A hundred years after it was first penned, the first English translation of the acclaimed Tharaud brothers pioneer travel books: Marrakech, Rabat and Fez. Barnaby Rogerson and Rose Baring in conversation with the translator Anthony Gladstone-Thompson.
2021 Gala Dinner
2 November 2021
The highlight of our 2021 events schedule, the BMS hosted our annual Gala dinner in celebration of 300 years of friendship between the UK and the Kingdom of Morocco at the St James’ Court in Buckingham Gate, London.
Tickets include a drinks reception, a 3 course meal, wine and soft drinks on the table and entertainment.
Dinner was followed by speeches, including an address from our Guest of Honour, Professor Rachid Yazami, world renowned Moroccan scientist who invented the battery technology behind modern cellphones, and a charity auction and raffle.
We were also delighted to host a table of Moroccan Chevening and Oxford University scholars, whose tickets were kindly subsidized by members.
After dinner entertainment included a dance floor and DJ playing traditional Moroccan music.
Proceeds from the event went towards our annual charitable giving programme in Morocco.
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- Some of our Moroccan Scholar guests
House of Lords Tea
30 September 2021
Sketch Social – London
1 September 2021
Online Talk – James von Leyden
20 July 2021
Online Talk – Tahir Shah
29 April 2021
Online Talk – The Unknown Fallen with Luc Ferrier
25 March 2021
Online Talk – Our Morocco with Lucas Peters
24 February 2021
Online Talk – Living Tangier by Abdelmajid Hannoum
14 January 2021
Online Talk – Henna Cafe Marrakech
1 December 2020
BMS Excursion to Marrakech & region
8 February – 12 February 2020
Gala Dinner
6 November 2019
Talk by Richard Hamilton
12 September 2019
“Morocco on the move” Conference
9 July 2019
Rally Marrakech Sahara
27 April – 3 May 2019
6 November 2018
BMS Tour to Fez, Meknes, Ifrane, Azrou, Volubilis
15 – 19 September 2018
Rally Marrakech Sahara
2018
Gala Dinner
2017
HMS President
2017
Rally Marrakech Sahara
2017
Casablanca excursion
2017
Gala dinner at St. James’ Court, A Taj Hotel, 54 Buckingham Gate, London SW1E 6AF followed by a raffle and auction.
Bastards – Film & Discussion Panel – July 2016
Documentary film “Bastards’’ followed by discussion with Deborah Perkin (producer & director) and with Rabha (central character in the film).
Joint event with the Moroccan Children’s Trust at The Lexi Cinema, 194b Chamberlayne Rd, Kensal Rise, London NW10 3JU
Rally Marrakech Sahara – May 2016
Benedicte Clarkson, the rally organiser, shares her very interesting blog and beautiful photos of the very successful Rally here.
Next year’s rally will take place from Sunday 7 to Friday 12 May 2017 and will go through the Dades Valley at the same time as the famous sweet smelling Rose Festival.
Tangier Excursion – April 2016
21 members of the British Moroccan Society enjoyed a very special excursion to Tangier & Tetuan (19-23 April 2016) comprising:
- visits to 8 inspirational charities/organisations
- a thrilling show at the Darna Theatre
- generous hospitality in 5 gorgeous private homes and gardens
- talks given by 2 authors in the group at the British University campus in Tangier
- tours of Palais Moulay Hafid and the America Legation
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- Le Foyer des Jeunes Diab?tiques de Tanger
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- Dar El Hanna
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- Dar El Hanna
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- Taha Husein School for
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- blind & partially sighted
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- children in Tetuan
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- Arrival at Tangier Airport
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- Base camp!
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- Palais Moulay Hafid
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- American Legation
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- with Director John Davidson (centre)
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- Dr Tariq Obaid, President of the British University in Morocco
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- Umberto Pasti’s garden
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- Coffee break
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- St Andrew?s Church
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- Mosque, Church, Synagogue in Tangier
© Aine Marsland
For more info about the charities in Tangier, please go to
www.britishmoroccansociety.
Samantha Herron Talk – February 2016
“I was delighted to be invited to speak to members of the British Moroccan Society about my experiences living with a family of former nomads in Morocco’s Draa Valley, and my recent publication ‘The Djinn in the Skull: Stories from hidden Morocco’.
I shared the story of my immersion in Moroccan culture and how the experience changed and transformed my life; and how listening to the stories which are shared informally whenever Moroccans gather together socially, led to my imagining and writing my own Moroccan stories.
The audience was wonderful, both engaged in my own personal story and responsive to the stories from ‘The Djinn in the Skull’ which I read out for them. The whole evening was perfectly rounded off with Moroccan mint tea and cookies.”
For more information or to purchase Samantha’s book, you can visit her website:
https://samanthaherron.
Iftar – July 2015
Talk at the House of Lords – April 2015
Morocco Excursion – November 2014
Gala Dinner – November 2014
Iftar – July 2014
Other 2014 events:
2013 events:
2012 events:
