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| Barack Obama sets out Africa vision after Mandela pilgrimage | Barack Obama sets out Africa vision after Mandela pilgrimage |
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| When Nelson Mandela was imprisoned on Robben Island for 18 years, the thing he missed most was the sight and sound and laughter of children. | When Nelson Mandela was imprisoned on Robben Island for 18 years, the thing he missed most was the sight and sound and laughter of children. |
| Today boys and girls regularly walk the corridors and yards of the museum, brought by parents and teachers to learn about South Africa's haunted past. Two more underwent the experience on Sunday: Malia and Sasha Obama. | Today boys and girls regularly walk the corridors and yards of the museum, brought by parents and teachers to learn about South Africa's haunted past. Two more underwent the experience on Sunday: Malia and Sasha Obama. |
| With their father, US president Barack Obama, and mother, Michelle, the first daughters stepped into Mandela's former prison cell, where on a typical day tourists ignore most of the long prison corridor and crowd with cameraphones. The cell contains a stall with a toilet bucket on top, and a mattress on the floor with pillows and a brown blanket. | With their father, US president Barack Obama, and mother, Michelle, the first daughters stepped into Mandela's former prison cell, where on a typical day tourists ignore most of the long prison corridor and crowd with cameraphones. The cell contains a stall with a toilet bucket on top, and a mattress on the floor with pillows and a brown blanket. |
| It was, he said, a profound experience. Later, addressing a packed hall at the University of Cape Town, Obama reflected that he had been to Robben Island once before but "there was something different about bringing my children. Malia's now 15, Sasha is 12, and seeing them stand within the walls that once surrounded Nelson Mandela, I knew this was an experience that they would never forget. | It was, he said, a profound experience. Later, addressing a packed hall at the University of Cape Town, Obama reflected that he had been to Robben Island once before but "there was something different about bringing my children. Malia's now 15, Sasha is 12, and seeing them stand within the walls that once surrounded Nelson Mandela, I knew this was an experience that they would never forget. |
| "I knew they now appreciated a little bit more the sacrifices Madiba and others had made for freedom ... They also understand that Mandela's spirit could never be imprisoned because his legacy is here for all to see." | "I knew they now appreciated a little bit more the sacrifices Madiba and others had made for freedom ... They also understand that Mandela's spirit could never be imprisoned because his legacy is here for all to see." |
| The Obamas were guided around the island by 83-year-old Ahmed Kathrada, himself a former inmate who has also spoken of the painful absence of children. Kathrada, who also escorted Obama on his 2006 visit to the prison as a US senator, is a close friend of Mandela, who, at 94, remains critically ill in a Pretoria hospital. | The Obamas were guided around the island by 83-year-old Ahmed Kathrada, himself a former inmate who has also spoken of the painful absence of children. Kathrada, who also escorted Obama on his 2006 visit to the prison as a US senator, is a close friend of Mandela, who, at 94, remains critically ill in a Pretoria hospital. |
| Under sunshine and clear, blue skies, the Obamas also took in the expansive view of a lime quarry where prisoners were forced into back-breaking labour. Above stood the rusty guard tower from which Mandela was watched. The bright sunlight shining off the limestone permanently damaged his tear ducts. | Under sunshine and clear, blue skies, the Obamas also took in the expansive view of a lime quarry where prisoners were forced into back-breaking labour. Above stood the rusty guard tower from which Mandela was watched. The bright sunlight shining off the limestone permanently damaged his tear ducts. |
| America's first black president commented on the "hard labour" Mandela endured and asked Kathrada to remind his daughters how long Mandela was in prison. Michelle Obama asked how often Mandela would work and was told he worked daily. As the family turned to leave, Obama asked Kathrada to tell his daughters how the African National Congress was born. | America's first black president commented on the "hard labour" Mandela endured and asked Kathrada to remind his daughters how long Mandela was in prison. Michelle Obama asked how often Mandela would work and was told he worked daily. As the family turned to leave, Obama asked Kathrada to tell his daughters how the African National Congress was born. |
| The Obamas saw the courtyard where Mandela planted grapevines that remain today, and where he and others in the dissident leadership would debate politics, smuggle notes to one another, and conceal writings. | The Obamas saw the courtyard where Mandela planted grapevines that remain today, and where he and others in the dissident leadership would debate politics, smuggle notes to one another, and conceal writings. |
| Obama wrote in the guestbook in the courtyard: "On behalf of our family, we're deeply humbled to stand where men of such courage faced down injustice and refused to yield. The world is grateful for the heroes of Robben Island, who remind us that no shackles or cells can match the strength of the human spirit." | Obama wrote in the guestbook in the courtyard: "On behalf of our family, we're deeply humbled to stand where men of such courage faced down injustice and refused to yield. The world is grateful for the heroes of Robben Island, who remind us that no shackles or cells can match the strength of the human spirit." |
| Invictus, the poem by William Ernest Henley that helped sustain Mandela on Robben Island, figured in remarks by Obama on Saturday. Addressing an official dinner hosted by South African president Jacob Zuma, Obama read the poem, which has the final stanza: "It matters not how strait the gate/How charged with punishments the scroll/I am the master of my fate:/I am the captain of my soul." | Invictus, the poem by William Ernest Henley that helped sustain Mandela on Robben Island, figured in remarks by Obama on Saturday. Addressing an official dinner hosted by South African president Jacob Zuma, Obama read the poem, which has the final stanza: "It matters not how strait the gate/How charged with punishments the scroll/I am the master of my fate:/I am the captain of my soul." |
| Sunday's university speech before an audience of 1,100 people was the central moment of Obama's three-nation African tour. Obama noted that this was the same venue where, 47 years earlier, US senator Robert Kennedy gave his celebrated "ripple of hope" address. He recalled how he "took his first step in political life" when two ANC representatives came to his campus in America. "It was the first time I ever attached myself to a cause," he said. | Sunday's university speech before an audience of 1,100 people was the central moment of Obama's three-nation African tour. Obama noted that this was the same venue where, 47 years earlier, US senator Robert Kennedy gave his celebrated "ripple of hope" address. He recalled how he "took his first step in political life" when two ANC representatives came to his campus in America. "It was the first time I ever attached myself to a cause," he said. |
| The president set out a vision of a new, self-confident Africa no longer dependent on western aid but able to compete on equal terms. "Many of the fastest-growing economies in the world are here, in Africa, where there's a historic shift taking place from poverty to a growing nascent middle class," he said. "There's an energy here that can't be denied. Africa rising. Where people only used to see conflict and suffering in Africa, suddenly they're seeing opportunity ... I've travelled to Africa because my bet is on the young people who are the heartbeat of Africa's story. I'm betting on you." | The president set out a vision of a new, self-confident Africa no longer dependent on western aid but able to compete on equal terms. "Many of the fastest-growing economies in the world are here, in Africa, where there's a historic shift taking place from poverty to a growing nascent middle class," he said. "There's an energy here that can't be denied. Africa rising. Where people only used to see conflict and suffering in Africa, suddenly they're seeing opportunity ... I've travelled to Africa because my bet is on the young people who are the heartbeat of Africa's story. I'm betting on you." |
| These bright prospects mean the era of dependency on aid is over, he continued. "America's been involved in Africa for decades but we are moving beyond a simple provision of assistance, foreign aid, to a new model, a partnership between America and Africa, a partnership of equals that focuses on your capacity to solve problems and your capacity to grow." | These bright prospects mean the era of dependency on aid is over, he continued. "America's been involved in Africa for decades but we are moving beyond a simple provision of assistance, foreign aid, to a new model, a partnership between America and Africa, a partnership of equals that focuses on your capacity to solve problems and your capacity to grow." |
| Obama, who has been criticised for a lack of big, signature projects in Africa, announced a $7bn (£4.6bn) five-year initiative to double access to electricity on the continent, in partnership with African countries and the private sector. | Obama, who has been criticised for a lack of big, signature projects in Africa, announced a $7bn (£4.6bn) five-year initiative to double access to electricity on the continent, in partnership with African countries and the private sector. |
| "This is America's vision. A partnership with Africa that unleashes growth and the potential of every citizen, not just a few at the top. And this is achievable, there's nothing that I've outlined that cannot happen. But history tells us that true progress is only possible where governments exist to serve their people, not the other way around." This last statement earned the biggest applause of the evening. | "This is America's vision. A partnership with Africa that unleashes growth and the potential of every citizen, not just a few at the top. And this is achievable, there's nothing that I've outlined that cannot happen. But history tells us that true progress is only possible where governments exist to serve their people, not the other way around." This last statement earned the biggest applause of the evening. |
| Obama went on to put some daylight between the US and China, increasingly seen as an economic rival in Africa but criticised for doing business with undemocratic regimes and turning a blind eye to human rights abuses. | Obama went on to put some daylight between the US and China, increasingly seen as an economic rival in Africa but criticised for doing business with undemocratic regimes and turning a blind eye to human rights abuses. |
| Citing Mandela again, he said: "Like America's first president, George Washington, he understood that democracy can only endure when it's bigger than just one person. So his willingness to leave power was as profound as his ability to claim power. The good news is that this example is getting attention across the continent ... We're interested in investing not in strong men but in strong institutions." | Citing Mandela again, he said: "Like America's first president, George Washington, he understood that democracy can only endure when it's bigger than just one person. So his willingness to leave power was as profound as his ability to claim power. The good news is that this example is getting attention across the continent ... We're interested in investing not in strong men but in strong institutions." |
| He also earned huge applause by calling for women's rights to be respected. "You can measure how well a country does by how it treats its women," he said. | He also earned huge applause by calling for women's rights to be respected. "You can measure how well a country does by how it treats its women," he said. |
| Those in power who accuse the west of "meddling" through ideas such as democracy and transparency are "usually trying to distract people from their own abuses", he added. "Sometimes they're the same people who behind closed doors are willing to sell off their country's own resources to foreign interests so long as they get a cut." | Those in power who accuse the west of "meddling" through ideas such as democracy and transparency are "usually trying to distract people from their own abuses", he added. "Sometimes they're the same people who behind closed doors are willing to sell off their country's own resources to foreign interests so long as they get a cut." |
| Obama acknowledged that there is much talks of the US military expanding across Africa but insisted that in fact "time and again we're putting muscle behind African efforts". | Obama acknowledged that there is much talks of the US military expanding across Africa but insisted that in fact "time and again we're putting muscle behind African efforts". |
| The president's visit has triggered small protests over US foreign policy, including his failure to close Guantanamo Bay. Retired archbishop Desmond Tutu raised the subject when Obama visited a youth centre run by his HIV foundation. | The president's visit has triggered small protests over US foreign policy, including his failure to close Guantanamo Bay. Retired archbishop Desmond Tutu raised the subject when Obama visited a youth centre run by his HIV foundation. |
| Tutu said: "Your success is our success. Your failure, whether you like it or not, is our failure. And so we want to show you that we pray for you to be a great success. | Tutu said: "Your success is our success. Your failure, whether you like it or not, is our failure. And so we want to show you that we pray for you to be a great success. |
| "We want you to be known as having brought peace to the world, especially as one who brought an end to the anguish to all in the Middle East. We pray you will be known as having brought peace to all the regions where there has been strife and peace and no need for Guantanamo Bay detention centre." | "We want you to be known as having brought peace to the world, especially as one who brought an end to the anguish to all in the Middle East. We pray you will be known as having brought peace to all the regions where there has been strife and peace and no need for Guantanamo Bay detention centre." |
| Mandela, South Africa's first black president, has been in hospital for more than three weeks. His family heir, Mandla, has said he will oppose a court action brought by the rest of the family, seeking to re-exhume the bodies of Mandela's three late children. The rest of the family want the remains to be reburied in Qunu, where Mandela himself wants to be laid to rest. | Mandela, South Africa's first black president, has been in hospital for more than three weeks. His family heir, Mandla, has said he will oppose a court action brought by the rest of the family, seeking to re-exhume the bodies of Mandela's three late children. The rest of the family want the remains to be reburied in Qunu, where Mandela himself wants to be laid to rest. |
| It also emerged on Sunday that Mandela's ex-wife, Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, has criticised Zuma for a televised visit to the ailing statesman in April. "I honestly cannot put in words how hurt the family was," she told Britain's ITV News. "It was one of the most insensitive things for anyone to have done." | It also emerged on Sunday that Mandela's ex-wife, Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, has criticised Zuma for a televised visit to the ailing statesman in April. "I honestly cannot put in words how hurt the family was," she told Britain's ITV News. "It was one of the most insensitive things for anyone to have done." |
| She added: "It was insensitive, it compromised the family, compromised his dignity and it should have never been done." | She added: "It was insensitive, it compromised the family, compromised his dignity and it should have never been done." |
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