Crowds flocked into Soweto's FNB stadium today, an urban area of Johannesburg.
This is the beginning of Nelson Mandela’s final farewells as he is taken back to his home village of Qunu for his burial on Saturday.
International world leaders sat together and were given opportunities to give their personal eulogy including a memorable speech from Barack Obama.
The Minister of Māori Affairs was the only Māori formally invited to attend the memorial.
At the end of the day, it was his own people who acknowledged and celebrated their leader's legacy the best way by lifting the spirits through song, cheers and dance.