Mother Halima Cissé and her husband Abdelkader Arby from Mali were on Tuesday preparing to meet family and friends in the country s capital Bamako, and they will then head on to Timbuktu.
She made headlines after giving birth to eight babies in 2009 following IVF treatment – now those little bundles of joy are all grown up!
'Octomum' Nadya S
The brood of five girls and four boys were joined on their first birthday party by big sister Souda, three, a complement of hardworking nurses and lots of cake and candles to be blown out.
Halima Cisse, 26, who made headlines around the world in May when she gave birth to nine babies, poses proudly alongside her husband Kader Arby, 35, together with their incredible brood.