BAMAKO, Mali — The world’s first surviving nonuplets have celebrated their fifth birthday, marking another remarkable milestone for the record-breaking siblings who captured global attention after surviving one of the rarest births in modern medical history.
The nine children, born to Halima Cissé and Abdelkader Arby, turned five on May 4 and are now preparing to begin school, a major step in a journey that has fascinated people around the world since their birth in 2021.
The siblings, four boys and five girls, became internationally recognised after entering the Guinness World Records as the first known set of nonuplets born from a single pregnancy to survive infancy.
Speaking about the children’s development and family life, Halima described the siblings as energetic, closely bonded and increasingly expressive as they grow older.
“The children get along very well with each other and with their big sister. 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.”
“Each child has a unique personality,” she added.
“Some are more energetic and expressive, while others are calmer and more observant. It is wonderful to see how different they are, yet how connected they remain.”
The children are now preparing to start formal education, a transition their parents say represents a major new chapter for the family.
“The children are doing very well, Alhamdulillah. They are healthy, active, and full of joy. They continue to grow beautifully, and we are very grateful.”
“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. This new stage is a big change for the family.”
The nonuplets were born prematurely by Caesarean section at 30 weeks in Casablanca after Halima was transferred from Mali to Morocco for specialised medical care.
Doctors initially believed she was carrying seven babies, but two additional babies were discovered shortly before delivery, making the pregnancy exceptionally rare and medically complex.
At birth, each child weighed between 500 grams and one kilogramme, requiring months of intensive neonatal care and close medical supervision.
The children; named Bah, Oumar, Elhadji, Mohammed VI, Fatouma, Adama, Hawa, Oumou and Kadidia — later returned to the Malian capital, Bamako, where they have continued to grow under the care of their parents, relatives and medical professionals.
After the family returned home in 2021, Abdelkader Arby publicly thanked the Malian government for supporting the family financially during the children’s extended treatment abroad.
“It’s a lot of work, but Allah, who gave us this blessing, will help us in their upbringing and taking care of them,” he said at the time.
Medical experts previously described the birth as an extraordinary achievement in neonatal and maternal healthcare, noting that survival rates for higher-order multiple births remain extremely low globally.
According to specialists, pregnancies involving five or more babies carry significant risks, including premature birth, organ complications and long-term developmental concerns, making the survival and continued healthy growth of all nine children particularly exceptional.
Over the past five years, updates shared through Guinness World Records and international media have documented the siblings’ progress, from learning to walk and speak to celebrating birthdays together and developing distinct personalities.
The family’s story has continued to resonate worldwide as both a medical milestone and a rare human-interest story reflecting resilience, modern healthcare advances and strong family support systems.
