Hakim Hajoui, Morocco’s Ambassador to the UK, visited the Barber Institute of Fine Arts in Birmingham, England, on Wednesday and reflected on the 400 years of diplomatic relations between the two kingdoms, the University of Birmingham stated.
The Director of the Barber Institute, Professor Jennifer Powell, gave Hajoui a tour of the campus’ portrait gallery, where he viewed the portrait of Moroccan Ambassador Abd el-Ouahed ben Messaoud ben Mohammed Anoun, the earliest known British painting of a Muslim figure.
The ambassador led an ambassadorial delegation to London in 1600 to deepen trade and diplomatic links between Britain and Morocco and is said to have been the inspiration for Shakespeare’s character Othello.
“This portrait is a powerful symbol of the deep historical ties between Morocco and the United Kingdom, dating back over eight centuries,” Hajoui remarked after the tour. “Seeing it here at the Barber Institute at the University of Birmingham underscores the vital role academic and cultural institutions play in preserving and celebrating our shared history.”
Hajoui’s visit to the University of Birmingham highlighted the institute’s connection to Morocco and the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.