The world’s only surviving nonuplets from Mali have marked their fifth birthday, with the record-breaking siblings now preparing to take another major step — starting school.

The nine children, born to Halima Cissé and Abdelkader Arby, made global headlines when they arrived on May 4, 2021, becoming the first known set of nine babies from a single birth to survive.

Now five years on, the four boys and five girls are thriving and entering a new chapter in their lives, highlighting a journey that has captured global attention since their extraordinary birth.

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Speaking about their growth and close-knit bond, Halima highlighted the children’s relationship and individual 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,” she added.

“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.”

Giving an update on their well-being and upcoming milestone, the mother said: “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.”

Initially, doctors believed Cissé was carrying seven babies. However, two more were discovered after she was transferred to Morocco for specialised care, where the nonuplets were delivered prematurely at 30 weeks via Caesarean section.

Before returning, they had been living with medical support in Casablanca.

The siblings — five girls and four boys named Bah, Oumar, Elhadji, Mohammed VI, Fatouma, Adama, Hawa, Oumou, and Kadidia— later returned to Mali after receiving extended medical support abroad, where they have continued to grow under the care of their parents and a strong support system.

After arriving back in the Malian capital, Bamako, in the early hours of Tuesday morning, the father, Abdelkader Arby, thanked the Malian government, which he said had been helping the family financially.

"It's a lot of work, but Allah, who gave us this blessing, will help us in their upbringing and taking care of them," he added.

At birth, each baby weighed between 500 grams and one kilogram, requiring intensive medical care in the early months of their lives.

Over the years, updates shared by Guinness World Records have shown the children developing distinct personalities and growing steadily, with their parents describing them as healthy and full of life.