Congratulations to Mahershala Ali and wife Amatus Sami-Karim on the birth of their first child, Bari, earlier this week. The Moonlight actor took to Instagram to announce his newborn’s arrival.
“Bari (Bar-ee) Najma Ali 2/22/17 #pisces,” Mahershala wrote. The celebrity father also shared a precious photo of Amatus snuggling Bari that earned many nods. “Congratulations to you and Amatus,” one fan wrote. “What a blessing.”
Mahershala told the press that he was looking forward to “having a new teacher” during a red carpet interview at the SAG Awards a few weeks ago. “Kids teach. They’re the truth. I’m ready to learn my lessons and learn them well, and I hope I have something to teach our child.”
The Moonlight star assured fans that he and Amatus were planning to give their child a simple name prior to Bari’s birth. “My wife’s name is Amatus [Sami-Karim] … But we’re going to do something a little bit simpler for our child,” he revealed. Mahershala went on to explain the meaning behind his name.
“Mahershalalhashbaz was the prophet Isaiah’s – it’s in the book of Isaiah – the prophet Isaiah’s second son,” Ali said. “It’s a symbolic name so he didn’t actually have to live through life with that name … but I have to live through life with that name.”
Bari is Mahershala Ali and Amatus Sami-Karim’s first child.
