In an awe-inspiring journey of determination and resilience, Mamadou Safayou Barry, a 25-year-old student from Guinea, has cycled an astonishing 4,000 kilometers (2,500 miles) across six West African countries to pursue his dream of studying at Egypt’s prestigious Al-Azhar University.
Setting off from his homeland in May, Mamadou Safayou Barry embarked on a four-month odyssey through Mali, Burkina Faso, Togo, Benin, Niger, and Chad, braving scorching heat, and political instability in some of these nations. His goal was to secure a place at Al-Azhar University, renowned worldwide as one of the foremost centers for Islamic learning.
Despite facing numerous challenges, including unwarranted arrests during his journey, Barry’s unwavering determination propelled him forward. The married father of one was driven by his passion for Islamic knowledge and a deep desire to study at Al-Azhar, even though he could not afford the tuition fees or airfare to Egypt.
Throughout his journey, Barry’s determination knew no bounds, even when he faced unjust arrests in Burkina Faso and Togo. He recounted, “To travel through these countries is very hard because they don’t have security at this time. They have so many problems, and people there are very scared – in Mali and Burkina Faso, people were looking at me like I was a bad man. All over, I was seeing the military with their big guns and cars.”
However, his fortunes took a remarkable turn when he reached Chad. A journalist interviewed Barry and shared his story online, prompting compassionate individuals to fund a flight to Egypt for him. This act of generosity spared him from cycling through Sudan, parts of which are currently war zones.
On September 5, 2023, after months of arduous travel and unyielding commitment, Mamadou Safayou Barry finally arrived in Cairo. His extraordinary journey captured the attention of Al-Azhar University, where he was granted an audience with the Dean of Islamic Studies, Dr. Nahla Elseidy. Impressed by Barry’s dedication, Dr. Elseidy extended an offer for him to join Al-Azhar’s Islamic Studies course with a full scholarship.
Taking to her social media channels, the dean expressed Al-Azhar’s commitment to offering knowledge to students worldwide, noting that the university’s philosophy “not only covers international students in Egypt but also extends abroad. Al-Azhar receives students from all countries, takes care of them, and offers them grants.”
Overwhelmed with joy and gratitude, Mamadou Safayou Barry remarked, “I cannot tell you how happy I was. I thanked Allah.” As he now embarks on his academic journey at Al-Azhar University, the challenges and trials of his epic expedition have faded into the background, replaced by the realization of his dream to become an Al-Azhar scholar
