The World Gathers In South Africa To Celebrate Nelson Mandela

REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach People start singing as they arrive for a mass memorial for late former South African President Nelson Mandela at First National Bank (FNB) Stadium, also known as Soccer City, in Johannesburg December 10, 2013.

Heads of state from around the world are gathering at Soweto, South Africa to attend the memorial service of Nelson Mandela.

"The world literally is coming to South Africa," said Clayson Monyela, the head of public diplomacy in the South African government told The New York Times. "I don't think it has ever happened before."

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U.S. President Barack Obama shook the hand of Cuba's Raul Castro in FNB Stadium, which is where Mandela was welcomed from apartheid jail 23 years ago and praised for uniting enemies across political and racial divides.

AP/Udo WeitzIn this Feb. 13, 1990 file photo, Nelson Mandela and Winnie Mandela give black power salutes as they enter Soccer City stadium in the Soweto township of Johannesburg, South Africa, shortly after his release from 27 years in prison. South Africa's president Jacob Zuma says, Thursday, Dec. 5, 2013, that Mandela has died. He was 95.

Reuters notes that "the atmosphere inside the stadium was one of joy and celebration, more akin to the opening game of the 2010 soccer World Cup that pitted jubilant hosts South Africa against Mexico."

About 90,000 are expected to attend.

REUTERS/Kai PfaffenbachPeople sing and dance in heavy rain while waiting for the start of the official memorial service for late South African President Nelson Mandela at the First National Bank stadium, also known as Soccer City, in Johannesburg December 10, 2013.