Thousands cheer Barack Obama ahead of his Nelson Mandela lecture
17 July 2018 - 14:56
byGenevieve Quintal
Support our award-winning journalism. The Premium package (digital only) is R30 for the first month and thereafter you pay R129 p/m now ad-free for all subscribers.
Former US President Barack Obama delivers the 6th Nelson Mandela Annual Lecture at Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg on July 17 2018. Picture: MASI LOSI
Former US president Barack Obama received a rousing welcome at the Wanderers Stadium where he was due to deliver the 16th Nelson Mandela annual lecture on Tuesday.
Before Nelson Mandela Foundation CEO Sello Hatang could finish introducing Obama the 15,000 people attending the event stood up cheering and clapping.
Obama was joined on stage by President Cyril Ramaphosa who also received a standing ovation and cheers from the crowd, Mandela’s widow Graça Machel and businessman Patrice Motsepe.
Obama will be the second former US president to deliver the Nelson Mandela annual lecture.
The first was former president Bill Clinton who gave the inaugural annual lecture.
Among the high-profile guests attending Tuesday’s event were former president Kgalema Motlanthe, national assembly speaker Baleka Mbete, former UN secretary-general Kofi Annan, who delivered the fifth annual lecture, Botswana president Mokgweetsi Masisi, former prime minister of Ireland Mary Robinson and former Liberian president Ellen Sirleaf.
Obama is expected to deliver his lecture on the theme of "Renewing the Mandela legacy and promoting active citizenship in a changing world".
Former president of the United States of America Barack Obama delivered the 2018 Nelson Mandela Annual Lecture in Johannesburg on July 17 2018, marking the 100th anniversary of Mandela’s birth by reflecting on his example of perseverance and vision and what lessons can be drawn from his legacy.
Support our award-winning journalism. The Premium package (digital only) is R30 for the first month and thereafter you pay R129 p/m now ad-free for all subscribers.
Thousands cheer Barack Obama ahead of his Nelson Mandela lecture
Former US president Barack Obama received a rousing welcome at the Wanderers Stadium where he was due to deliver the 16th Nelson Mandela annual lecture on Tuesday.
Before Nelson Mandela Foundation CEO Sello Hatang could finish introducing Obama the 15,000 people attending the event stood up cheering and clapping.
Obama was joined on stage by President Cyril Ramaphosa who also received a standing ovation and cheers from the crowd, Mandela’s widow Graça Machel and businessman Patrice Motsepe.
Obama will be the second former US president to deliver the Nelson Mandela annual lecture.
The first was former president Bill Clinton who gave the inaugural annual lecture.
Among the high-profile guests attending Tuesday’s event were former president Kgalema Motlanthe, national assembly speaker Baleka Mbete, former UN secretary-general Kofi Annan, who delivered the fifth annual lecture, Botswana president Mokgweetsi Masisi, former prime minister of Ireland Mary Robinson and former Liberian president Ellen Sirleaf.
Obama is expected to deliver his lecture on the theme of "Renewing the Mandela legacy and promoting active citizenship in a changing world".
Former president of the United States of America Barack Obama delivered the 2018 Nelson Mandela Annual Lecture in Johannesburg on July 17 2018, marking the 100th anniversary of Mandela’s birth by reflecting on his example of perseverance and vision and what lessons can be drawn from his legacy.
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Most Read
Related Articles
Nelson Mandela, the man — by his personal assistant and aide
Published by Arena Holdings and distributed with the Financial Mail on the last Thursday of every month except December and January.