I cycled across Africa for a place at my dream university
A handwritten map is all Mamadou Barry had to guide him from Guinea to Egypt, where he wanted to enrol at one of the world’s top Islamic universities.
A handwritten map is all Mamadou Barry had to guide him from Guinea to Egypt, where he wanted to enrol at one of the world’s top Islamic universities. At the age of 24 he had reached a crossroads in his life. Having failed his final year secondary school exams five times in a row, he set his sights on a different type of education. Mamadou had heard about the prestigious Al Azhar University in Egypt, but could not afford a plane ticket. So he decided to set off on an epic adventure, travelling by bike, and leaving his home in Guinea with only $55, a small bag of clothes and tools, and a map he had drawn himself.
Presenter: Mobeen Azhar
Producer: Rob Wilson
Translator and interpreter: Olivier Weber
Voiceover artist: Gaïus Kowene
Get in touch: [email protected] or WhatsApp +44 330 678 2707
(Photo: Mamadou and his bike. Credit: Courtesy of Mamadou Barry)
Last on
Broadcasts
- Thu 21 Dec 202312:06GMTBBC World Service
- Thu 21 Dec 202318:06GMTBBC World Service except East and Southern Africa & West and Central Africa
- Thu 21 Dec 202323:06GMTBBC World Service East and Southern Africa & West and Central Africa only
- Fri 22 Dec 202303:06GMTBBC World Service
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