Ceremonies in honor of Nelson Mandela began on December 10 at FNB Stadium in Soweto, near

Johannesburg. Even where former South African president had held his first speech after his release
in 1990. Numerous figures, including 70 heads of state and five Nobel Peace Prize, are present ...

Ceremonies in honor of Nelson Mandela, which took place Tuesday, brought together 70 heads of
state, five Nobel Peace Prize and nearly 40 000 people came to the FNB Stadium in Soweto, where
former South African president had held his first speech after his release Credits

In a more extended than the brief time allowed to each speaker speech, Barack Obama hailed a
"giant of justice", saying that too many leaders in the world solidarity speech said his fight for
freedom but does not tolerate the any opposition to their own people. Credit: AFP / BRENDAN
SMIALOWSKI facebook twitter google + linkedin pinterest

Another strong picture of the ceremony: the historic handshake exchanged by Obama and Cuban
leader Raul Castro. Cuban official media reported a "gesture of hope." This handshake "was not
programmed," assured a senior White House. Washington broke off diplomatic relations with Havana
in 1961 and established an embargo in 1962. If Bill Clinton also shook hands with Fidel Castro in
2000, is the first public rapprochement between the two nations.

Credit: REUTERS / REUTERS TV facebook twitter google + linkedin pinterest

France was represented by François Hollande and Nicolas Sarkozy, who is flying from Johannesburg
to join, and exchanged a few words in the stands before exiting the ceremony before the end

Other guests of the ceremony include former South African President Frederik Willem de Klerk and
his wife Elita. The Nobel Peace Prize was awarded jointly to Nelson Mandela and de Klerk in 1993.
Credits: AP

The rain is also invited to the ceremony, that many South Africans hailed as a "divine blessing."
Many South Africans had the opportunity to highlight their vuvuzela, symbol of the 2010 World Cup
in this stadium where Nelson Mandela made his last public appearance. Credit: REUTERS / RONEN
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The widow of Nelson Mandela, Graca Machel, and his ex-wife, Winnie, were both present at the
ceremony. Credits

Finally, the current South African President has received a mixed reception. The band present in the
stands had indeed begin to silence the boos before the South African president, already whistled on
his arrival at the stadium, can not speak a piece of music. Part of the audience began to leave the
stadium in Soweto at the beginning of his speech.

Last to speak at the ceremony, former Anglican Archbishop Desmond Tutu has managed to lighten
the mood in an unexpected response mixing antics and prayers. "I will not give you my blessing
before you all be silent. Be disciplined (...) I want to hear a pen drop, "said he yelled, managing to get
a total silence in the Soccer City stadium already largely deserted after four hours of a rather boring
ceremony under a rain fighter.

"I want to see the world celebrate the life of an extraordinary icon" Has he said before praying in
several South African languages. Credits: AP / Matt Dunham facebook twitter google + linkedin
pinterest

We are not all sitting days between Barack Obama and David Cameron, have thought Helle Thorning-
Schmidt, head of the Danish government since October 2011. The latter decided to sacrifice the
mode of "selfie" (which has not been released yet). Credit: AFP / R