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| Nelson Mandela buried at Qunu ancestral home | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Nelson Mandela's body has been laid to rest in a family plot, after political and religious leaders paid tribute to South Africa's first black president at a state funeral service. | |
| Some 4,500 people - including foreign dignitaries - attended the service at Mr Mandela's ancestral home of Qunu. | Some 4,500 people - including foreign dignitaries - attended the service at Mr Mandela's ancestral home of Qunu. |
| A close friend, Ahmed Kathrada, told mourners he had lost an "elder brother" who was with him for many years in prison on Robben island. | A close friend, Ahmed Kathrada, told mourners he had lost an "elder brother" who was with him for many years in prison on Robben island. |
| Mr Mandela died on 5 December aged 95. | Mr Mandela died on 5 December aged 95. |
| His casket was carried by the military, accompanied by family and friends, from a specially-erected marquee up a hill to the graveside. | His casket was carried by the military, accompanied by family and friends, from a specially-erected marquee up a hill to the graveside. |
| The family had asked for only a few hundred guests to be present for the traditional Xhosa burial, unlike the much larger-scale, televised service. | The family had asked for only a few hundred guests to be present for the traditional Xhosa burial, unlike the much larger-scale, televised service. |
| South Africa's air force staged a fly-past of the gravesite as the coffin was lowered into the grave. | |
| 'A great tree has fallen' | 'A great tree has fallen' |
| The final day of South Africa's 10-day commemoration for its late leader began with his coffin taken on a gun carriage from Mr Mandela's house to the giant marquee. | The final day of South Africa's 10-day commemoration for its late leader began with his coffin taken on a gun carriage from Mr Mandela's house to the giant marquee. |
| Members of the family had attended an overnight vigil, where a traditional praise singer is believed to have chanted details of his long journey and life. | Members of the family had attended an overnight vigil, where a traditional praise singer is believed to have chanted details of his long journey and life. |
| Inside the marquee, Nelson Mandela's portrait stood behind 95 candles, representing one for each year of his life. | |
| His casket, draped in the South African flag, was placed beneath a lectern where speakers paid their tributes. Some guests sang and danced to celebrate Mr Mandela's life as the service began. | His casket, draped in the South African flag, was placed beneath a lectern where speakers paid their tributes. Some guests sang and danced to celebrate Mr Mandela's life as the service began. |
| After the national anthem, Nkosi Sikelel'I Africa (God Bless Africa) was sung, the service heard from a family spokesman, Chief Ngangomhlaba Matanzima, who thanked the army medical team that had treated Mr Mandela before he died.. "A great tree has fallen, he is now going home to rest with his forefathers. We thank them for lending us such an icon." | After the national anthem, Nkosi Sikelel'I Africa (God Bless Africa) was sung, the service heard from a family spokesman, Chief Ngangomhlaba Matanzima, who thanked the army medical team that had treated Mr Mandela before he died.. "A great tree has fallen, he is now going home to rest with his forefathers. We thank them for lending us such an icon." |
| Mr Kathrada's voice filled with emotion as he spoke of the difficulty of recent months and of how he had held his friend's hand the last time he saw him in hospital. "Farewell my dear brother, my mentor, my leader," he said. | Mr Kathrada's voice filled with emotion as he spoke of the difficulty of recent months and of how he had held his friend's hand the last time he saw him in hospital. "Farewell my dear brother, my mentor, my leader," he said. |
| Two grandchildren then addressed the congregation. Ndaba who read an obituary, and Nandi, who spoke fondly of her grandfather as a disciplinarian. "We shall miss you... your stern voice when you are not pleased with our behaviour. We shall miss your laughter." | Two grandchildren then addressed the congregation. Ndaba who read an obituary, and Nandi, who spoke fondly of her grandfather as a disciplinarian. "We shall miss you... your stern voice when you are not pleased with our behaviour. We shall miss your laughter." |
| Listening to the tributes were Graca Machel, his widow, and his second wife, Winnie-Madikizela Mandela, who sat either side of President Jacob Zuma. | Listening to the tributes were Graca Machel, his widow, and his second wife, Winnie-Madikizela Mandela, who sat either side of President Jacob Zuma. |
| Both women were praised for their love and tolerance, in an address by Malawi's President Joyce Banda. | Both women were praised for their love and tolerance, in an address by Malawi's President Joyce Banda. |
| 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. | 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 there, having earlier said he had cancelled his flight as he had not received an invitation. US talk show host Oprah Winfrey is also present. | Archbishop Desmond Tutu - a long-time friend of Nelson Mandela - is there, having earlier said he had cancelled his flight as he had not received an invitation. US talk show host Oprah Winfrey is also present. |
| While the service took place, a 21-gun salute sounded far away in Pretoria. | While the service took place, a 21-gun salute sounded far away in Pretoria. |
| President Zuma, who was booed at last week's stadium commemoration in Soweto, led the service in song before giving his funeral oration. | President Zuma, who was booed at last week's stadium commemoration in Soweto, led the service in song before giving his funeral oration. |
| "It has been a long and painful week for us," he said in tribute to a man he praised as a pillar of strength and beacon of hope for anyone fighting for a "just world order". | "It has been a long and painful week for us," he said in tribute to a man he praised as a pillar of strength and beacon of hope for anyone fighting for a "just world order". |
| "Whilst the long walk to freedom has ended in the physical sense, our own journey continues," he said. | "Whilst the long walk to freedom has ended in the physical sense, our own journey continues," he said. |
| An unexpected contribution came from Kenneth Kaunda, 89-year-old former president of Zambia, who lightened the tone of the proceedings by jogging to the stage. | An unexpected contribution came from Kenneth Kaunda, 89-year-old former president of Zambia, who lightened the tone of the proceedings by jogging to the stage. |
| He recounted failed appeals he had made to two South African leaders, John Vorster and PW Botha, for the release of Mr Mandela and his ANC colleagues from prison. | He recounted failed appeals he had made to two South African leaders, John Vorster and PW Botha, for the release of Mr Mandela and his ANC colleagues from prison. |
| As the political tributes over-ran, the organisers made an unsuccessful attempt to cut back the religious element of the service, which continued with a sermon from Bishop Zipho Siwa of the Methodist Church. | As the political tributes over-ran, the organisers made an unsuccessful attempt to cut back the religious element of the service, which continued with a sermon from Bishop Zipho Siwa of the Methodist Church. |
| The master of ceremonies, ANC Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa, had earlier explained that burial had to take place at midday, in line with the traditions of Mr Mandela's Thembu tribe in Qunu. | The master of ceremonies, ANC Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa, had earlier explained that burial had to take place at midday, in line with the traditions of Mr Mandela's Thembu tribe in Qunu. |
| "A person of Mandela's stature is meant to be laid to rest when the sun is at its highest and when the shadow is at its shortest." | "A person of Mandela's stature is meant to be laid to rest when the sun is at its highest and when the shadow is at its shortest." |
| The Thembu community will conduct a private traditional Xhosa ceremony - including songs and poems about Mr Mandela's life and his achievements. | The 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". | 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". |
| The burial will bring to an end 10 days of mourning across South Africa. | The burial will bring to an end 10 days of mourning across South Africa. |
| 'Sad but happy' | 'Sad but happy' |
| On Saturday, Mr Mandela's coffin was flown from Waterkloof airbase in Pretoria to Mthatha in the Eastern Cape. | |
| To solemn music, the coffin was moved by a military guard of honour and placed in a hearse to begin the 20-mile (32km) journey to Qunu, where Mr Mandela had wanted to spend his final days. | |
| Crowds waving flags and cheering and singing lined the route taken by the cortege through Mthatha town to pay their last respects. | Crowds waving flags and cheering and singing lined the route taken by the cortege through Mthatha town to pay their last respects. |
| 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. |
| At least 100,000 people saw the former president's body lying in state for three days in Pretoria, but some had to be turned away. | At least 100,000 people saw the former president's body lying in state for three days 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. |
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