This archive report was first published on 19 July 2019.
On July 19, 2019, Fatoumata Kourouma Conde, an 18-year-old from Mamou in eastern Guinea, made headlines for her unwavering dedication to her studies. Despite being on the verge of giving birth, she sat for the physics part of her baccalaureate exam, a high-school diploma that entails exams in various subjects.
As she sat for the exam, Conde realized she was about to give birth. She was rushed to the local hospital, where she delivered a baby boy within 10 minutes. Just 40 minutes after leaving the examination room, she was back at her desk, stunning her family and the invigilators.
Conde's tale was confirmed by the head of the exam centre, Mohamed Diakite. When asked why she didn't inform anyone about her impending childbirth, Conde said, "I just couldn't bring myself to imagine missing a single exam for my baccalaureate, which I have been studying for the whole year."
Her husband, a corporal in the police, was delighted by the news and was telling everyone about "this terrific woman." The community in Mamou was also congratulating the couple, with one relative expressing the hope that the baby would be named Espoir, or "Hope" in French.
