Photos From Nelson Mandela's Memorial Ceremony

Joyous, singing South Africans gathered in the rain Tuesday to honor Nelson Mandela at a massive memorial service that is expected to draw some 100 heads of state and other luminaries, united in tribute to a global symbol of reconciliation. Crowds converged on FNB Stadium in Soweto, the Johannesburg township that was a stronghold of support for the anti-apartheid struggle that Mandela embodied as a prisoner of white rule for 27 years and then during a peril-fraught transition to the all-race elections that made him president. see more pictures below...

U.S President Barack Obama and Cuban President Raul Castro

 

 Former French president Nikola sarkozy and the current French president francois hollande

Former U.S president jimmy carter, former UN secretary general koffi annan and Egypt's constituent assembly chairman LAKDAR BRAHIMI

 Former U.S president George W Bush and former british prime minister Gordon Brown

Nelson Mandela's widow Graca Machel and President Barack Obama

Nigeria president Goodluck Jonathan arrives at the memorial ceremony

Princess Charlene of Monaco arriving at the memoril ceremony

South african president Jacob zuma giving a speech at the memorial ceremony

Retired anglican archbishop Desmond Tutu and Kofi annan

Belgian prime minister Eliu Di Rupo and Belgian king Phillipe

Nelson mandela former wife Winnie Madikzela Mandela at the memorial ceremony

Former South Africa president F.W De Klerk at the memorial ceremony

VIP's and Dignitaries stand up for the start of Nelson Mandela memorial ceremony

Jordan's Queen Rania arrives at the memorial ceremony

U.S President Barack Obama giving his speech at the memorial ceremony

Denmark Prime Minister Helle Thorning-Schmidt (L} U.S President Barrack Obama (C)and his wife Michelle Obama at the memorial ceremony

Nelson Mandela's widow Graca Machel at the memorial ceremony

Brazillian president Dilma Rousseff at the memorial ceremony

Nelson Mandela's eldest son Mandia Mandela at the memorial ceremony

U2 lead singer Bono and Actress charlize Theron at Nelson Mandela's memorial ceremony

Singer Bono and his wife Ali hewson at the memorial ceremony

Barack Obama and George W Bush arriving South Africa for Nelson Mandela's memorial ceremony

French President Francois Hollande arriving for the memorial ceremony