Hollywood superstar Will Smith pleasantly surprised Mamadou Safayou Barry, a Guinean student who cycled an astounding 4,000km (2,500 miles) across Africa to reach university.
In a heartwarming video call to Cairo, where Barry is pursuing his studies, Smith expressed being “deeply moved” by Barry’s remarkable journey and generously gifted him a new bike and a laptop.
Smith first learned about Barry’s incredible trek from a BBC Instagram post in September of last year.
In a short film uploaded to Smith’s YouTube channel, Barry, visibly shocked, engaged in conversation with the Men in Black star.
“This is Will Smith!” exclaimed a smiling Mr. Barry. “A lot of your films I love.”
“I don’t know how to thank you Wallahi [I swear]! I don’t know how to thank you,” Barry later expressed upon learning about the thoughtful gifts bestowed upon him.
Smith’s publicity team reached out to the BBC after being touched by Mr. Barry’s odyssey, seeking a way to connect with him.
Last May, the 25-year-old embarked on his journey from Guinea to Egypt’s prestigious Al-Azhar University.
Unable to afford a flight, he cycled through Mali, Burkina Faso, Togo, Benin, Niger, and Chad over four months, braving regions with security challenges.
Barry faced adversity during his expedition, encountering arrest and detention without cause in Burkina Faso and Togo.
However, his fortunes changed in Chad when a journalist shared his story online, prompting generous individuals to fund a flight to Egypt.
In Cairo, he received a university placement, initially for Islamic studies and later transitioning to engineering, along with a full scholarship.
“When you commit to a journey, the universe conspires to help you,” Smith shared, quoting author Paulo Coelho, during the video call, leaving Mr. Barry beaming with gratitude.
In the video, a bicycle and a laptop were presented to the student, courtesy of Will Smith.
Additionally, Smith provided vouchers for flights, allowing Mr. Barry to visit his family in Guinea or vice versa.
The touching encounter highlighted the power of determination and kindness in overcoming challenges and creating unexpected connections.
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Will Smith’s Surprise Gift To African Student Who Biked Across Africa, Will Smith’s Surprise Gift To African Student Who Biked Across Africa
