In the days since Nelson Mandela died, Johannesburg, South Africa, has been shrouded with rain clouds. According to some African cultures, the rain is a sign of an esteemed elder passing away and being welcomed into the afterlife by his departed ancestors.
On Dec. 10, thousands of rain-soaked South Africans gathered at FNB Stadium, where they danced and sang, cried and celebrated Nelson Mandela’s legacy. The following day, as Mandela’s body was taken to the Union Buildings–the seat of government in Pretoria–the sun shown brightly through the clouds as thousands lined the streets to say farewell to the anti-apartheid leader.
Mandela’s body will lie in state for three days before being taken to his birthplace, the village of Qunu, where he will be buried.
