Keypoints:
- Mali’s famous nonuplets celebrated their fifth birthday this week
- The children are preparing to begin school together
- Their birth in Morocco in 2021 drew worldwide attention
MALI’S world-famous nonuplets are preparing to begin school together after celebrating their fifth birthday, marking a remarkable new chapter for the children whose survival stunned the world in May 2021.
The nine children — five girls and four boys — marked the occasion this week alongside their parents, Halima Cissé and Abdelkader Arby, and their elder sister Arby.
Family prepares for next stage
Speaking to Guinness World Records, Cissé said the children were thriving and preparing for a significant transition as they approach school age.
‘The children are doing very well, Alhamdulillah. They are healthy, active, and full of joy,’ she said.
The mother added that formal education would soon become part of the siblings’ daily routine.
‘They will begin school soon, which is an important and exciting step for them. As parents, we are focusing on their education while making sure they continue to enjoy their childhood,’ she said.
The development marks another chapter in the extraordinary journey of the family, whose story became a symbol of hope and medical resilience after the children survived an exceptionally rare multiple birth.
Medical miracle captured global attention
The nonuplets were born prematurely at 30 weeks through Caesarean section in Casablanca, Morocco, after the Malian government arranged specialist care for Cissé during the high-risk pregnancy.
At birth, each baby weighed between 0.5kg and 1kg, requiring intensive medical support during the early months of their lives.
The children spent their first nine months in Morocco under close supervision before returning to Mali with their family.
Their birth sparked celebrations across Mali and attracted worldwide attention, with many people following the family’s journey as a symbol of resilience and medical progress.
The case also highlighted the importance of international medical cooperation, as Moroccan specialists worked closely with Malian authorities to support the pregnancy and delivery.
The birth attracted worldwide headlines after doctors initially believed Cissé was carrying seven babies before scans later revealed nine. Guinness World Records subsequently recognised the siblings as the only known surviving set of nonuplets globally.
According to medical experts, successful survival of all nine babies remains exceptionally rare worldwide, making the case one of the most extraordinary in modern obstetrics.
Africa Briefing previously reported on the family’s early progress during their stay in Morocco, where doctors monitored the babies around the clock as they gained strength and weight.
The girls are named Kadidia, Fatouma, Hawa, Adama and Oumou, while the boys are Mohammed, Oumar, Elhadji and Bah.
Strong bond among siblings
Cissé said the children have formed a close-knit relationship despite the unusual circumstances surrounding their upbringing.
‘The children get along very well with each other and with their big sister,’ she said.
‘They share a strong bond and spend most of their time playing together. Like all siblings, they sometimes have small disagreements, but they are very united and caring towards one another.’
According to their mother, each child has also developed a distinct personality over time.
‘Some are more energetic and expressive, while others are calmer and more observant,’ she explained. ‘It is wonderful to see how different they are, yet how connected they remain.’
Symbol of resilience
The family’s journey continues to resonate across Africa and beyond, particularly because pregnancies involving so many babies rarely result in all children surviving.
Medical specialists have repeatedly described the birth as one of the most extraordinary cases in recent neonatal medicine, with the survival of all nine children viewed as a rare medical achievement.
As the siblings prepare to start school together, their parents say their focus remains on giving the children as normal and joyful a childhood as possible despite their global recognition.
Photos from the birthday celebration shared online have once again drawn admiration from supporters around the world, many of whom have followed the family’s journey since the children’s birth.
