Will Smith surprises man who biked across Africa
Hollywood actor Will Smith gave Mamadou Safayou Barry, a Guinean who rode 4,000 kilometers across Africa to get to university, a pleasant surprise. Smith said he was “deeply moved” by Barry’s journey during a video conversation to Cairo, where he is presently studying, and gave him a new bike and a laptop as a gift.
“I want the world to hear your story,” the lead in numerous blockbusters said.
On a short film uploaded to Smith’s YouTube channel, the student appeared shocked to be talking to the Men in Black star. “This is Will Smith!” a smiling Mr Barry said. “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,” he said later when he heard about the gifts.
The actor was moved by Mamadou Safayou Barry’s story, and Will Smith’s team wanted to talk to him about it, according to a September email to the BBC. Lacking the funds for a plane ticket, the 25-year-old rode his bike for four months from Guinea to Al-Azhar University in Egypt, stopping in Mali, Burkina Faso, Togo, Benin, Niger, and Chad.
Also Read: Katt Williams Attacks Steve Harvey, Cedric The Entertainer and Rickey Smiley
While traveling, Mamadou Safayou Barry faced unjust arrests three times in Burkina Faso and Togo. His fortunes changed in Chad when a journalist shared his story online, leading to generous individuals funding a flight to Egypt.
Upon reaching Cairo, he received a university spot for Islamic studies and engineering, along with a full scholarship. During a video call, Will Smith mention the universe conspiring to help during journeys, citing author Paulo Coelho. In the video, a bicycle and a laptop were gifted to Mr. Barry, and Smith provided flight vouchers for him to visit his family in Guinea or have them visit him.
Will Smith surprises man who biked across Africa first appeared on bbc
