Main content

The funeral of Nelson Mandela

In 2013, a humble village in South Africa hosted the funeral of the country's revered statesman, Nelson Mandela. Sixty world leaders attended and tens of thousands mourned.

On 15 December 2013, South Africa held the funeral of Nelson Mandela who led the struggle in defeating apartheid and became the country鈥檚 first black president.

His ancestral home in the village of Qunu in South Africa鈥檚 Eastern Cape hosted 60 world leaders including four United States presidents and two UN secretary generals.

It was the first state funeral held by the country.

Nelson Mandela鈥檚 eldest child Dr Makaziwe Mandela tells Josephine McDermott how it took eight years to plan and why it makes her proud to remember that day.

(Photo: Candles are lit under a portrait of Nelson Mandela at his funeral service. Credit: Odd Andersen/AFP via Getty Images)

Available now

9 minutes

Last on

Sat 16 Dec 2023 03:50GMT

Broadcasts

  • Fri 15 Dec 2023 08:50GMT
  • Fri 15 Dec 2023 12:50GMT
  • Fri 15 Dec 2023 18:50GMT
  • Fri 15 Dec 2023 23:50GMT
  • Sat 16 Dec 2023 03:50GMT

Featured in...

Podcast