This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-25386729
The article has changed 15 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 1 | Version 2 |
---|---|
Nelson Mandela to be buried in Qunu ancestral home | Nelson Mandela to be buried in Qunu ancestral home |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Nelson Mandela is to be buried in his ancestral home in Qunu in the Eastern Cape, ending a week of commemorations for South Africa's first black leader. | Nelson Mandela is to be buried in his ancestral home in Qunu in the Eastern Cape, ending a week of commemorations for South Africa's first black leader. |
Some 4,500 people - including foreign dignitaries - are attending the funeral, which blends state ceremonial with traditional rituals. | |
Members of his family attended an overnight vigil, with a traditional praise singer believed to be chanting details of his long journey and life. | Members of his family attended an overnight vigil, with a traditional praise singer believed to be chanting details of his long journey and life. |
He died on 5 December aged 95. | He died on 5 December aged 95. |
Singing and dancing | |
On Sunday, the coffin was taken on a gun carriage from Mr Mandela's house to a giant white marquee that had been specially erected. | |
The state funeral started shortly after 06:00 GMT. | |
African National Congress members, veterans of the fight against apartheid and foreign dignitaries - including several African presidents, the Prince of Wales - are among the guests. | |
Archbishop Desmond Tutu - a long-time friend of Nelson Mandela - is also there, having earlier said he had cancelled his flight as he had not received an invitation. | |
The South African government had earlier said the archbishop was accredited, but that no formal invitations had been sent out. | The South African government had earlier said the archbishop was accredited, but that no formal invitations had been sent out. |
Inside the marquee, Nelson Mandela's portrait is placed behind two rows of candles, on one of the three stages. | |
Some guests have been singing and dancing to celebrate Mr Mandela's life. | |
After the two-hour service, Mr Mandela's Thembu community will conduct a private traditional Xhosa ceremony - including songs and poems about Mr Mandela's life and his achievements. | |
An ox will be slaughtered. A family elder will stay near the coffin, which has been draped with a lion's skin, to talk "to the body's spirit". | |
'Sad but happy' | 'Sad but happy' |
On Saturday, Mr Mandela's coffin was flown from Waterkloof airbase in Pretoria on a C130 military aircraft, escorted by two fighter jets. It later landed at Mthatha airport, some 700km (450 miles) away. | On Saturday, Mr Mandela's coffin was flown from Waterkloof airbase in Pretoria on a C130 military aircraft, escorted by two fighter jets. It later landed at Mthatha airport, some 700km (450 miles) away. |
In line with tribal custom, Nelson Mandela's grandson Mandla accompanied him on the journey, speaking to his coffin to tell him he was on his way home to rest. | In line with tribal custom, Nelson Mandela's grandson Mandla accompanied him on the journey, speaking to his coffin to tell him he was on his way home to rest. |
To solemn music, the coffin draped in a South African flag was moved by a military guard of honour and placed in a hearse to begin the 32km journey to Qunu, where Mr Mandela had wanted to spend his final days. | To solemn music, the coffin draped in a South African flag was moved by a military guard of honour and placed in a hearse to begin the 32km journey to Qunu, where Mr Mandela had wanted to spend his final days. |
People waving flags and cheering and singing - in places 10 to 12 deep - lined the route taken by the cortege through Mthatha town to pay their last respects. | People waving flags and cheering and singing - in places 10 to 12 deep - lined the route taken by the cortege through Mthatha town to pay their last respects. |
Tears as well as smiles could be seen on the faces of onlookers. | Tears as well as smiles could be seen on the faces of onlookers. |
"He is finally coming home to rest, I can't even begin to describe the feeling I have inside," 31-year-old Bongani Zibi told AFP news agency. | "He is finally coming home to rest, I can't even begin to describe the feeling I have inside," 31-year-old Bongani Zibi told AFP news agency. |
"Part of me is sad but I'm also happy that he has found peace." | "Part of me is sad but I'm also happy that he has found peace." |
However, some people expressed their frustration that the convoy did not stop, so they had no chance to view the coffin as people in Pretoria had. | However, some people expressed their frustration that the convoy did not stop, so they had no chance to view the coffin as people in Pretoria had. |
The cortege then drove through the gates of the Mandela homestead in Qunu. | The cortege then drove through the gates of the Mandela homestead in Qunu. |
Ahead of the flight to the Eastern Cape, members of the African National Congress paid final tributes to Nelson Mandela at a ceremony in Pretoria. | Ahead of the flight to the Eastern Cape, members of the African National Congress paid final tributes to Nelson Mandela at a ceremony in Pretoria. |
President Jacob Zuma, other ANC leaders and more than 1,000 members of the organisation which Mr Mandela once led, attended the event at the Waterkloof air base. | President Jacob Zuma, other ANC leaders and more than 1,000 members of the organisation which Mr Mandela once led, attended the event at the Waterkloof air base. |
It included a multi-faith service and a musical tribute. | It included a multi-faith service and a musical tribute. |
Mourners heard President Zuma pay his own tribute to Nelson Mandela, calling him a "towering figure", "a man of action" and a "democrat who understood the world." | Mourners heard President Zuma pay his own tribute to Nelson Mandela, calling him a "towering figure", "a man of action" and a "democrat who understood the world." |
"Yes, we will miss him... He was our father, he was our guardian. He was something special." | "Yes, we will miss him... He was our father, he was our guardian. He was something special." |
"We'll always keep you in our hearts," Mr Zuma said. | "We'll always keep you in our hearts," Mr Zuma said. |
At least 100,000 people saw the former president's body lying in state during the week in Pretoria, but some had to be turned away. | At least 100,000 people saw the former president's body lying in state during the week in Pretoria, but some had to be turned away. |
Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. | Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. |
Read the terms and conditions | Read the terms and conditions |