Mamadou Safayou Barry, a Guinean man, cycled 4,000 km across West African countries to pursue Islamic studies at Egypt’s prestigious Al Azhar University. Despite facing detention multiple times during his journey, the 25-year-old not only secured admission but also received a full scholarship.
Barry’s remarkable four-month journey took him through nations marked by political instability and conflict, including Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, Togo, Benin, and Chad. His inspiring story gained attention on social media, leading to financial support for a flight to Egypt, sparing him from cycling through war-torn Sudan.
Barry’s determination paid off when he arrived at Al Azhar University on September 5 and was granted a scholarship for the Islamic Studies program by Dr. Nahla Elseidy, Dean of Islamic Studies at the university, which is renowned for its commitment to educating students from around the world.