A Guinean man who rode over 2,500 kilometres across Africa to attend a university in Egypt was recently contacted by actor Will Smith. Mamadou Safayou Barry, a 25-year-old father and spouse, previously gained notoriety by riding across the continent in order to further his studies. The esteemed Al-Azhar University in Cairo was his intended destination, and he planned to get admitted there after arriving. 

Barry travelled through seven nations during his four-month voyage, according to the BBC: Mali, Burkina Faso, Togo, Benin, Niger, and Chad. Barry had to make the difficult journey via numerous hazardous areas that were both impacted by political unrest and home to jihadist combatants. He was arbitrarily detained and arrested three times in Burkina Faso and Togo.

But things took a turn for Barry in Chad. A journalist interviewed him there before publishing and disseminating the cyclist’s account. After learning of Barry’s daring expedition, some people made the decision to assist him in getting a ticket to Egypt. Barry was greeted with open arms upon his arrival at the institution and presented with an offer of a full scholarship.

Smith was “deeply moved” by Barry’s story and wаnted to get in touch with the Guinean student after seeing it on Instagram. A video call between the two guys was posted on Smith’s YouTube account.

Barry exclaimed, startled and thrilled to be conversing with the actor, “This is Will Smith!” “I adore a lot of your films.”

In the video, Smith said to Barry, “I want the world to hear your story.” Along with coupons that may be used to either book flights for Barry to visit his wife and child in Guinea or for him to visit them at his university in Cairo, he also sent Barry a new bicycle and laptop.

Smith told Barry on the video chat, “The universe conspires to help you when you commit to a journey.”

“Wallahi, I’m not sure how to thank you.” Barry exclaimed, “(I swear by God!) I don’t know how to thank you,” upon learning of the kind and considerate presents.