"It
is hard to eulogise any man ... how much harder to do so for a giant of
history, who moved a nation towards justice," Obama said, after being
introduced to wild cheers.
"He
showed us the power of action, of taking risks on behalf of our
ideals," Obama said of the prisoner-turned-president whose life story
earned uncommon universal respect.
In
a nod to Mandela's extraordinary global reach, popularity and
influence, the Indian, Brazilian, Cuban and Namibian presidents all
delivered eulogies extolling his courage and moral leadership.
But
it was Obama's impassioned tribute that really galvanised the crowd,
which at times became impatient with the long roster of speakers and a
poor sound system that dampened the spontaneity of the occasion.
The
four-hour event began at midday (1000 GMT) with a stirring rendition of
the national anthem, Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika (God Bless Africa), led by a
mass choir and picked up by the rest of the stadium.
"This is once in your life. This is history," said Noma Kova, 36. "I didn't want to watch this on TV."
Some
80,000 had been expected, but the venue was two-thirds full as the
ceremony got under way under a curtain of rain that had been falling
since the early morning.
Despite
the profound sense of national sorrow triggered by Mandela's death last
Thursday, the mood was upbeat, with people determined to celebrate the
memory of one of the 20th century's towering political figures.
Cold War thaw? Obama, Castro shake hands.
A man stands under the rain as he attends the memorial service for Nelson Mandela in Johannesburg, o …
"His
long walk is over, he can finally rest," African National Congress
(ANC) Vice President Cyril Ramaphosa said in an opening address.
On several occasions, Ramaphosa felt forced to admonish boisterous sections of the crowd for chanting during the speeches.
In
his tribute, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon noted that Mandela had
managed to unite people in death, much as he had in life.
"Look around this stage we see leaders representing many points of view ... all here, all united," he said.
Before taking to the lectern, Obama shook hands with Raul Castro, leader of long-time Cold War rival Cuba.
The
handshake was seen by millions watching the memorial being broadcast
live around the world, and comes as Obama tries to make good on a vow to
reach out even to US enemies.
Crowds
had begun gathering at the Soweto stadium before daybreak and, as the
gates opened, they swarmed inside the venue where Mandela made his last
major public appearance at the 2010 World Cup final.
Wrapped
in the South African flag or yellow and green shawls printed with the
slogan "Mandela Forever", they danced and sang oblivious to the constant
drizzle.
"He's
God given, he's God taken. We will never stop to cherish him," said
Shahim Ismail, who took a day off from the sports academy he runs in
Johannesburg to attend the event.
Mandela's widow, Graca Machel, received a huge ovation as she took her seat on the main stage erected at one end of the pitch.
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