Thousands of mourners braved South Africa's summer rain as they packed the Soccer City stadium in Johannesburg for a national memorial for Nelson Mandela.
Despite pouring rains, the atmosphere inside the stadium was celebratory, with people in colorful wear dancing, blowing "vuvuzelas" - plastic horns - and singing songs from the country's anti-apartheid struggle.
The memorial event will pay tribute to a life of imprisonment and political struggle that ended in triumph and consecrated Mandela as a global symbol of integrity and forgiveness.
The fact that the visiting leaders - more than 90 are expected - include some from nations still locked in antagonism, such as Cuba and the United States, adds resonance to the homage being held at the gigantic bowl-shaped stadium, the venue of the 2010 World Cup final.
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