"When you commit to a journey, the universe conspires to help you." - Paulo Coelho.&nbsp;
Mamadou's Journey To Egypt
Mamadou, a 25-year-old from Guinea, set out on his quest to gain admission to Al-Azhar University, the prestigious university in Egypt. Instead of purchasing a plane ticket, he decided to go throughout Mali, Burkina Faso, Togo, Benin, Niger, and Chad on his bicycle for a period of four months. He encountered several challenging circumstances on his journey; he was detained and arrested&nbsp;twice in Burkina Faso and once in Togo. However, Mamadou's&nbsp;arrival in Chad altered his fate. A journalist's interview with him&nbsp;and the internet publication of his story led someone to choose to cover the cost of his flight to Egypt.
After his narrative gained more traction and attention, he was able to realize his goals and seize an opportunity he had been dreaming of.&nbsp;The generosity of strangers at borders is one remarkable theme that comes out of Mamadou Safayou Barry's amazing voyage throughout Africa. This unique quality projects a strong sense of generosity. He was offered a full scholarship and the chance to pursue Islamic studies at Al-Azhar University&nbsp;before deciding to major in engineering.
Will Smith's Interview&nbsp;
The Guinean student rode his bicycle to the heart of West Africa, passing through Guinea, Mali, Burkina Faso, Togo, Benin, and Chad. His physical strength was limited, but his dream's strength remained untapped.
Hollywood star&nbsp;Will Smith joined Mamadou's story after hearing this inspiring tale. In addition to recognizing Mamadou's persistence, Smith arranged for Mamadou to visit his family.&nbsp;Mamadou Safayou Barry's tale sparked global appreciation and passion after Will Smith's video was&nbsp;released on YouTube.&nbsp;&ldquo;When I first heard Mamadou&rsquo;s story, I couldn&rsquo;t believe it... I appreciate Mamadou taking the time to sit with me and talk about his inspiring journey,&rdquo; Smith wrote in the caption.
Smith mentioned novelist Paulo Coelho when he said to Mr. Barry, "When you commit to a journey, the universe conspires to help you." Additionally, Smith has gifted Barry&nbsp;coupons so he can freely go back and forth to see his family in Guinea or so they can come to visit him.&nbsp;"I don't know how to thank you Wallahi [I swear]! I don't know how to thank you," Mamadou thanked Smith. &nbsp;
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Mamadou To Nile FM
How did you get the idea of studying at Al-Azhar University? Having taken the university entrance exam in Guinea five times and not succeeding, I thought of traveling to study at Al-Azhar University, and every year I worked to get money to buy the ticket, but I was unsuccessful, so I thought about relying on my physical strength. I love going on my bike as it doesn't need money or fuel, the only thing it needs is my energy. In Guinea, we know Al Azhar and it has a great place to do, if somebody tells you that from Al Azhar we respect him immediately.
What is the difference between living in Cairo and in Guinea? The difference between living in Cairo and Guniea is that in Cairo things are easy, and so far every day my love for Egypt increases, and he was excited to share that his wife and daughter will come to live in Cairo soon. "And in my country, if somebody says I'm going to Egypt, it means "knowledge."
You mentioned that you were a little hesitant before telling your story to the Chadian journalist. Why? I didn't want to tell my story to the Chadian journalist because I was on this journey for God's sake, as a part of God's plan, and for a reason between me and him. I didn't want there to be hypocrisy in it, but he told me that sharing my story would help me and that's what happened, I don't regret it, and if I didn't do this interview, none of this would've happened at all.&nbsp;
Were you worried for your family before making your journey alone on the bike? My family didn't know I was going on this journey on a bike, because if they knew they wouldn't have agreed. I wasn't afraid of the dangers of the road because we're used to this. And on the border in the rest of Africa, we can cross with a Guinean passport, but in Central Africa, you need to buy a visa, and that's what happened in Chad. When I was interviewed by a journalist, everyone started helping me. There's a Guinean man who saw my story online and bought me a plane ticket to Cairo.
How was Will Smith's interview impactful on your life? I was surprised nobody told me I was going to talk to Will Smith. After the meeting, I was so happy and I became famous in my country. After the interview, I spoke to my siblings, who were excited about Will Smith's interview. Smith's gifts helped me, as I'm currently studying English and taking lessons in the electrical engineering field on my laptop.
Why did you choose to study electric engineering? I love electrical engineering because I've been interested in it before, but I want to study it professionally. When I return to Guinea, I will be a new person, and I will teach my community to help my country. In Egypt, if you want to get knowledge, you will find it. When I go back to my country, Guinea, I'm going to work in engineering to get money. Besides that, I'll pass on my knowledge free of charge to my people. Egypt taught me for free, and if I get something for free, I'm supposed to give it for free too.
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The amazing influence an accidental encounter may have on our lives is demonstrated by the encounter between Mamadou Safayou Barry and Will Smith. It demonstrates how a single person's perseverance and dedication, when reinforced by kindness to others, may lead to unexpected opportunities and alter the trajectory of a life. Barry's narrative also serves as an example of the value of telling everyone our tales. Amazing chances may emerge via the influence of social media and media coverage, bringing together people who otherwise would not have crossed paths. &nbsp;

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