Embassy celebrates US independence and US-Qatar ties, Mardi Gras style

The US embassy in Qatar transformed the Qatar National Convention Centre (QNCC) into the vibrant streets of New Orleans, Louisiana, yesterday to mark the 247th US Independence Day.
The lively event, led by US ambassador Timmy T Davis, was attended by Qatar’s Minister of Finance HE Ali bin Ahmed al-Kuwari, Minister of Commerce and Industry HE Sheikh Mohamed bin Hamad bin Qassim al-Abdullah al-Thani, and Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ assistant director of Protocol Saeed al-Hajri, diplomats from various embassies in Qatar as well as other dignitaries.
Davis sang and danced at the event, joining a number of performers on a huge parade float that entertained the crowd.
The festivity featured jazz and brass music, in addition to a wide range of culinary delights, showcasing a New Orleans tradition that “grew from a French religious festival into a multicultural American celebration”.
In his speech delivered in a space decked in the Mardi Gras colours of purple, green, and gold, the envoy underscored the importance of celebrating the rich diversity of the US and the deep-rooted bilateral ties between the US and Qatar.
Citing the warm welcome and authentic hospitality he received since arriving to Qatar, the ambassador said: “I’m impressed by the genuine kindness that I see every day from the people of Qatar and others who call Qatar home ... building authentic relationships is a genuine element of Qatari culture.”
“In the spirit of building our bonds of friendship, today I have a special opportunity to share with you all a snapshot of where I come from, my roots, my home, the city of New Orleans,” Davis said.
“A city that has seen its share of struggle and which has even experienced Qatari generosity in the wake of Hurricane Katrine, New Orleans is a place where music, food, and culture thrive,” he said. “The diversity in New Orleans comes from the rich history of its people ... nicknamed the birthplace of jazz, it is a place where the music is just as vibrant as the food.”
For Qatar’s first Mardi Gras, three musicians performed American music throughout the night – the Doha-based “AFCENT Band” of the US Air Force Central Command, and two bands visiting from the US: New Orleans go-go funk and brass band “Brass-A-Holics”, and Minneapolis, Minnesota bluegrass act “Barbaro”.
Performers tossed beaded necklaces from the parade float, a popular Mardi Gras tradition, as guests enjoyed beignets and other New Orleanian famous dishes.
Besides his achievements as US ambassador to Qatar, Davis also underlined the success of the 5th US-Qatar Strategic Dialogue in Doha, during which the US Secretary of State Antony Blinken discussing various areas of bilateral relations between the two countries, ranging from trade and investment, education and culture to energy cooperation, labour rights, regional security and defence co-operation, and law enforcement and counterterrorism.