A girl looks at flowers (not seen) outside the Houghton home of the late former South African President Nelson Mandela in Johannesburg December 15, 2013. (Reuters picture)
Anti-apartheid champion Nelson Mandela was buried in his home village on Sunday after a funeral that mixed ancient tribal rituals with a display of the might of the new, integrated South Africa.
Military officers, both black and white, rolled Mandela’s flag-draped coffin to the family burial plot in the village of Qunu. Formations of planes and military helicopters, South African flags flapping from the bellies, flew over the green hills where thousands of mourners had gathered.
Unlike a public memorial service on Tuesday at a stadium that was rife with problems, the funeral and burial — broadcast on many TV channels — went smoothly, although behind schedule. The ceremonies mixed solemnity with joy at Mandela’s accomplishments, lasted all morning and into the afternoon and were fit for African royalty. Mandela, South Africa’s first black president, is descended from royalty.
South Africa’s President Jacob Zuma speaks during the funeral ceremony for former South African President Nelson Mandela in Qunu December 15, 2013.
South Africa’s President Jacob Zuma (C), Winnie Mandela (L), ex-wife of former South African President Nelson Mandela, and Graca Machel (R), widow of Mandela, attend Nelson Mandela’s funeral ceremony in Qunu December 15. (Reuters picture)
Archbishop Desmond Tutu (R) and former South African President Thabo Mbeki greet each other before the funeral ceremony of former South African President Nelson Mandela in Qunu December 15, 2013. (Reuters picture)
Zindzi (L), daughter of former South African President Nelson Mandela, attends his funeral ceremony in Qunu December 15, 2013. (Reuters picture)
Mourners watch the funeral of former President Nelson Mandela on large screen televisions in Soweto, December 15, 2013.
Former President of Zambia Kenneth Kaunda walks to the stage to speak during the funeral ceremony for former South African President Nelson Mandela in Qunu December 15, 2013. (Reuters picture)
Women dance and sing during a homage outside the Houghton home of the late former South African President Nelson Mandela in Johannesburg December 15, 2013British entrepreneur Richard Branson (R) and U.S. TV host Oprah Winfrey (C) attend the funeral ceremony for former South African President Nelson Mandela in Qunu December 15, 2013.
A local boy, Anda, looks out from his hut’s window at the burial ground of late former South African President Nelson Mandela ahead of his funeral in Qunu, December 15, 2013. (Reuters picture)
The funeral cortege, carrying the coffin of former South African President Nelson Mandela on a gun carriage, makes its way from his house to a tent where the funeral service will be within the Mandela family’s property in the village of Qunu December 15, 2013.
