World’s only nonuplets in perfect health as they celebrate first birthday

The record breaking nonuplets born in Morocco to a Malian couple on Tuesday, May 4, 2021, have celebrated their first birthday.

YabaleftOnline reported that their 26-year-old mother, identified as Halima Cissé, welcomed all nine babies – 5 girls and 4 boys – in a single delivery in 2021.

The boys were named Mohammed VI, Oumar, Elhadji, Bah, while the girls were named Kadidia, Fatouma, Hawa, Adama and Oumou. Read here

Their father who is an officer in the Malian Army, Adelkader Arby, speaking in an interview with BBC Afrique, said all the babies are in good health.

“They’re all crawling now. Some are sitting up and can even walk if they hold on to something. They are still in the care of the clinic in Morocco where they were born,” he said, adding that their mother Halima, was also doing well.

“It’s not easy but it’s great. Even if it’s tiring at times, when you look at all the babies in perfect health, from right to left we’re relieved. We forget everything,” he added.

Mr Arby, who just returned to Morocco for the first time in six months with their first daughter, aged three, to reunite with his wife and the nonuplets, said they will throw a small party with the nurses and a few other people to celebrate the kids as they turn one.

Mrs Cissé and the kids are currently living in a “medicalized flat” owned by the owners of the Ain Borja clinic in Casablanca where the babies were born.

“There are nurses who are here, in addition to my wife, who help to take care of the children,” Mr Arby said.

“The clinic has given them a menu which says what to give them to eat at all times – night and day,” he continued.

He added that the babies have different personalities – while some are exceptionally quiet, others are noisy and cry a lot, while some others liked to be carried.

Mr Arby also appreciated the Malian government for its help, and revealed that many Malians are looking forward to seeing the babies with their own eyes.

Praying for couples trying to have children, he said, “I hope God blesses everyone who doesn’t yet have children – that they can have what we, the parents of nonuplets currently have. It’s beautiful, a real treasure.”