Barack Obama today paid an emotional tribute to Nelson Mandela, calling the South African leader a 'giant of history' as he spoke at a memorial service in a stadium where around a third of the seats were mysteriously left empty.
The U.S. President, who moments earlier had shaken hands with Cuba's Raul Castro in a historic moment of reconciliation, receivied a rapturous reception for his eulogy at the service in Johannesburg's FNB Stadium, which started an hour late in the pouring rain.
Cyril Ramaphosa, the deputy president of the ruling ANC party who opened the proceedings, said: 'In our tradition, when it rains when you are buried, your gods are welcoming you to heaven.'
Mr Obama arrived almost an hour after the ceremony started, but was greeted with prolonged applause by the crowd - in stark contrast to South African president Jacob Zuma, who was loudly booed whenever he appeared on the stadium's big screen.
When Mr Zuma walked up to the podium to deliver the keynote speech at the ceremony, he was met with a huge chorus of boos, forcing organisers to bring in a choir to drown out the noise of the crowd and save the president's blushes.
Scroll down for video footage of the ceremony
Eulogy: U.S. President Obama waves to the crowd as he delivers his speech at the memorial service for Nelson Mandela in Johannesburg
Passion: Mr Obama spoke of how he was inspired by Mandela's political mission when he began his own career
Fitting setting: A general view of the arena which was the location of Mr Mandela's first speech in Johannesburg after he was released from prison in 1990
Rare display of unity: President Obama shakes hands with Cuban leader Raul Castro in spite of the animosity between their governments
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Historic: The handshake between the leaders of the two Cold War enemies came during a ceremony that focused on Mandela's legacy of reconciliation
'His triumph was your triumph': President Barrack Obama is shown on a big screen as he delivers his eulogy to flag-waving and umbrella-holding mourners
Mutual respect: President Obama speaks to Nelson Mandela's widow Graca Machel during the memorial service
Giving his condolences: President Obama kisses Nelson Mandela's widow Graca Machel during the memorial service
Selfie: David Cameron and Barack Obama took a picture of themselves alongside Denmark's prime minister Helle Thorning-Schmidt
Mr Obama opened his speech by thanking Mandela's family, then continued: 'To the people of South Africa - people of every race and walk of life - the world thanks you for sharing Nelson Mandela with us.
'His struggle was your struggle. His triumph was your triumph. Your dignity and hope found expression in his life, and your freedom, your democracy is his cherished legacy.'
He continued: 'Mandela taught us the power of action, but also ideas; the importance of reason and arguments; the need to study not only those you agree with, but those who you don't.'
Referring to the anti-apartheid icon's friendship with his own prison warders, the President said: 'It took a man like Madiba to free not just the prisoner, but the gaoler as well.'
Leaders: Tony Abbott, John Key and David Cameron, prime ministers of Australia, New Zealand and Britain respectively, at the service
Support: Gordon Brown, who paid tribute to Mandela in the Commons yesterday, with his wife Sarah and George W. Bush
He also spoke out against the dictators from countries such as Zimbabwe and China who pay lip service to Mandela's legacy while repressing their own people, saying: 'There are too many of us who happily embrace Madiba's legacy of racial reconciliation, but passionately resist even modest reforms that would challenge chronic poverty and growing inequality.
'There are too many leaders who claim solidarity with Madiba's struggle for freedom, but do not tolerate dissent from their own people. And there are too many of us who stand on the sidelines, comfortable in complacency or cynicism when our voices must be heard.'
Mr Obama concluded: 'We will never see the likes of Nelson Mandela again. But let me say to the young people of Africa, and young people around the world - you can make his life's work your own.'
On his way to the podium, the President shook hands with Raul Castro, whose brother Fidel has long been one of the fiercest enemies of the U.S. - testament to Mandela's ability to bring warring parties together in his memory.
The two countries have not had diplomatic relations since the Communist revolution of 1959, and their leaders are not believed to have communicated with each other in recent years.
Sombre occasion: Members of Nelson Mandela's family take their seats amid heavy rain ahead of his memorial service at the FNB Stadium in Soweto, near Johannesburg
Prominent role: U.S. President Barack Obama, who will deliver a eulogy at the service, is joined by First Lady Michelle (right)
Cheers: When America's first couple flashed up on screen the crowd roared their approval of the U.S.'s first black President
Tough conditions: Mr Obama was delayed because his motorcade struggled through the rain-soaked route to the World Cup stadium
Two very different receptions: Mr Obama, who was greeted with prolonged applause, embraces South African president Jacob Zuma, who was loudly booed
Embarrassing: South African Jacob Zuma was roundly booed by the crowd when he got up to deliver his tribute to Mr Mandela
Who's who of world leaders: VIPs and dignitaries watch from the tribune as rain lashes down during the memorial service
Paying tribute: World leaders converged on the FNB Stadium in Soweto, the Johannesburg township that was a stronghold of support for the anti-apartheid struggle that Mandela embodied
Rivals: But George W. Bush, pictured with wife Laura, apparently got on well with his successor Bill Clinton, pictured with wife Hillary and Chelsea
Wet, but well received: President Barack Obama greets members of the crowd in the pouring rain after making his speech
Homage: Obama paid an emotional tribute to Nelson Mandela, thanking the people of South Africa for 'sharing' their former president with the world
Leaving: Mr Obama waves to the camera as he walks out of the ceremony with the First Lady
Former president Bill Clinton and his wife, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton arrived separately but were seen leaving together with their daughter Chelsea (third right) and aide Huma Abedin (front)
Stars: U2 singer Bono and South African actress Charlize Theron talking in the crowd at the ceremony
Ally: FW de Klerk, who was awarded the Nobel Prize along with Mandela for his role in ending apartheid, arrives with his wife Elita
'He has done it again... people from all walks of life, all here, united': UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon pays tribute to Mr Mandela
Associates: Jimmy Carter, Kofi Annan and Henry Kissinger arrived at the memorial service together
David Cameron paid tribute to the spirit of forgiveness shown by the anti-apartheid hero as he arrived for the service.
The British prime minister said Mr Mandela set an example to politicians across the world, not only in the 'incredible stand he took' but in the way he treated people once he was released from prison.
He highlighted the moment Mr Mandela appeared with captain of the Springboks Francois Pienaar at the Rugby World Cup final in South Africa in 1995.
Mr Cameron told BBC Breakfast: 'I will never forget the sight of him with the captain of the Springboks out in the middle of that rugby pitch, that moment is seared in all our memories.
'And the way that he had treated people who had done such harm to people.
'I think it was the forgiveness that set an example that so few politicians are able to follow. I think those sort of lessons are what we need to learn and take away with us.'
After the ceremony, Mr Cameron tweeted: 'An inspiring day - one that challenges all leaders to live up to the spirit of Nelson Mandela.'
Jovial: Former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan (left) and retired Anglican Archbishop Desmond Tutu appear in good spirits as they arrive for the service
Embraced: Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair (left) is greeted after arriving for the memorial service in Johannesburg
Sense of humour: Former President of Ireland Mary Robinson (left) chats with Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu arrive inside the FNB stadium
Successor: Former South African President Thabo Mbeki is welcomed as he arrives at the FNB Stadium before heading inside the venue with his wife Zanele (left)
Audience: Italian prime minister Enrico Letta (above left), French ex-president Nicolas Sarkozy (below left) and his successor Francois Hollande (below right)
Key role: Cuban President Raul Castro Ruz arrives for the memorial service where he is due to give a speech
The highest spots: Spectators gather ahead of the Tuesday memorial ceremony
Colourful: A woman dressed in the regalia of the South African national rugby team arriving at the stadium
Celebration: A mourner wearing a wig in the South African national colours arrives at the stadium
Dance: Many of those inside the stadium were dancing to celebrate the life of the former leader
Tribute: Many of those attending the memorial were decked out in national flags and wearing celebratory clothing
Springboks: South Africa's rugby captain Jean de Villiers and his predecessor Francois Pienaar were among the mourners
United: When Mandela handed the rugby world cup to Pienaar it was considered a landslide moment in the post-apartheid era
Image: Supporters bore newspapers with Mandela on the front page as they filed in to the service
Politics: A supporter waves the flag of the African National Congress, the liberation movement which became Mandela's political party
Banner: Supporters carrying a large sign which paid tribute to Mandela's lasting legacy in South Africa and the rest of the world
Queues: Members of the public clutching umbrellas to protect against the rain file in to the stadium in Soweto
Touching down: President Obama and First Lady Michelle looked collected and sombre after coming off the 17-hour flight on Air Force One
Welcoming committee: President Obama and Michelle (who is covered by an umbrella) are greeted Tuesday morning on the tarmac in Johannesburg by International Relations Minister Maite Nkoane-Mashabane (center)
Former President George W. Bush and his wife Laura are seen coming off of Air Force One after the Obamas as the two couples shared the plane with former Secretary of State and first lady Hillary Clinton
Lines of succession: Obama led the Americans, followed by Michelle, then former President George Bush, Laura Bush, and Hillary Clinton seen just slightly at the end
Not attending: Russia's president Vladimir Putin today signed a book of condolence for Mandela's death at the South African embassy in Moscow
Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe and his wife Grace Mugabe (centre) arrive in Pretoria ahead of the memorial
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| Equatorial Guinea's president Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo (left) and Kenya's President Uhuru Kenyatta (right) also arrived in South Africa on Monday night |
Pakistani President Mamnoon Hussain (centre) is also on the guestlist for the prestigious memorial
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Uganda's President Yoweri Museveni arrive at Waterkloof Air Force Base in Pretoria |
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| Malawi's President Joyce Banda arrive at Waterkloof Air Force Base in Pretoria |
SOURCE: dailymail UK
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