The U2 frontman and Theron are among tens of thousands of people who attend a memorial to honor Nelson Mandela which is held at Johannesburg's FNB Stadium.
- December 11, 2013
AceShowbiz -
Bono and Charlize Theron were among tens of thousands of people who attended Nelson Mandela memorial on Tuesday, December 10. Attended by more than 60 heads of state, the event which celebrated the life of the South African statesman was held at FNB Stadium in Johannesburg.
The two activists sat together at the memorial. Theron, who was born in South Africa and met Mandela in 2004, was seen blowing a kiss to the audience. Naomi Campbell was also a guest at the event.
In an essay written for Irish Times, Bono said of Mandela, "As an activist I have pretty much been doing what Nelson Mandela tells me since I was a teenager. He has been a forceful presence in my life going back to 1979, when U2 made our first anti-apartheid effort. And he's been a big part of the Irish consciousness even longer than that."
President Obama was welcomed with loud cheers when he spoke at the memorial. "We will never see the likes of Nelson Mandela again. To the people of South Africa - of every race and every walk of life - the world thanks you for sharing Nelson Mandela with us," President Obama said in his speech, as quoted by CNN. "There is no one like Madiba," South African President Jacob Zuma told the audience, referring to Mandela's clan name. "He was one of a kind. Everyone has had a Mandela moment when this world icon has touched their lives."
In addition to world leaders, members of royal families attended the event. The Dutch King Willem Alexander, Norway's Crown Prince Haakon, Sweden's Princess Victoria, Danish Crown Prince Frederik and Japanese Crown Prince Naruhito paid their respects to the beloved figure.
