- Safiu Kehinde
The world’s first surviving nonpulets have clocked five years with the Guiness World Record (GWR) celebrating their birthday anniversary.
GWR announced the the birthday anniversary of the nonpulets in a post shared on its official X handle on Monday.
The nonpulets comprised of four boys namely Mohammed VI, Elhadji, Oumar and Bah, with five sisters namely Kadidia, Fatouma, Hawa, Adama and Oumou.
They were born on the 4th of May, 2021 in Morocco to Malian parents, Halima Cissé and Abdelkader Arby.
According to GWR, the nonpulets hold the record for most children delivered at a single birth to survive.
In commemoration of their birthday, Halimah, their mother shared sweet new pictures of the kids with GWR.
The 30-year-old woman previously seven-year-old girl before the birth of the nonpulets, making her a mother of ten.
She confirmed that the children are hale and healthy, adding that they will soon be enrolled to school.
“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.” She said as quoted by GWR.
On the relationship between the nonpulets Halimah said they share strong bond with one another and spend most of their time playing together alongisde their big sister.
She however admitted to minor distinctions in their personalities.
“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,
“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.” She said.
According to GWR, the Mali nonuplets were born on 4 May 2021 in Morocco and spent 19 months there before they could finally go home.
Originally, doctors believed Halima was carrying seven babies, but after she and Abdelkader were flown out to Morocco for care at a specialist clinic, they found out she was actually pregnant with nine little ones.
The five girls and four boys were born prematurely via C-section at a gestational age of 30 weeks. A ‘normal’ pregnancy lasts around 40 weeks.
They each weighed between 0.5-1 kg (1.1-2.2 lb).
Their births, of course, made headlines around the world, and people continue to follow their story as they grow.
The nonuplets also share the overall title of most children delivered at a single birth with the nine babies born to Geraldine Brodrick (Australia) in 1971, although tragically none of those children survived.