Celebrating one of his personal heroes, president Barack Obama has praised Nelson Mandela as the last great liberator of the 20th century, urging the world to carry on his legacy by fighting inequality, poverty and discrimination.
At the Johannesburg memorial service Mr Obama compared the former South African President to Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King and Abraham Lincoln. He said Mr Mandela had earned his place in history through struggle, shrewdness, persistence and faith.
"For nothing he achieved was inevitable," Mr Obama said. "In the arc of his life, we see a man who earned his place in history through struggle and shrewdness, persistence and faith. He tells us what's possible not just in the pages of dusty history books, but in our own lives as well."
Mr Obama traced the influence that Mr Mandela's story has had on his own life, disclosing that he asks himself how well he has applied Mr Mandela's lessons to himself as a man and as president.
He said in the US, South Africa and around the world, people must not allow progress that has been made to cloud the fact that more work must be done.
"We, too, must act on behalf of justice. We, too, must act on behalf of peace. There are too many of us who happily embrace Madiba's legacy of racial reconciliation, but passionately resist even modest reforms that would challenge chronic poverty and growing inequality," Mr Obama said, referring to Mr Mandela by his traditional clan name.
WHAT THEY SAID ABOUT MANDELA
A selection of quotes from the speeches at the Mandela memorial service and from mourners attending the event:
"He touched my heart, my soul, my life and those of the millions of South Africans," said Mandela family friend Andrew Mlangeni in his opening remarks at the memorial service. "He created hope where there was none."
"To him, life was all about service to others," said family member General Thanduxolo Mandela. "He mingled with kings, queens and presidents ... At the core, he was a man of the people.
"Mr. Mandela was more than one of the greatest pillars of our time," United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said in his speech at the service. "He was one of our greatest teachers. He taught by example. He sacrificed so much ... for freedom and equality, for democracy and justice."
"His life was just an extraordinary journey, from beginning to end, with such an effect, both on his own country, and on the rest of the world," former Prime Minister Gordon Brown said before the service. "So, enjoy today, enjoy and celebrate what he achieved. We may not see his like again."
"I think Madiba would like us to celebrate and not be sad, to have smiles on our faces," said Muhammad Choonara, a 24-year-old university student, before the memorial. Madiba is Mandela's clan name that most South African use as an endearment when speaking about the former president.
"It's to honour the legend: He emancipated the South Africans, he freed our country, he united black and white," said Lefentse Nkosi, a 39-year-old South African government worker, as she queued to get into the stadium.
"Mandela was a very humble man and he gave himself to the world. He sacrificed time with his family for us and for me. It is a privilege to be here, it is a humbling experience," said Dipolelo Moshe, 35, who works for a marketing company. She had a South African flag draped over her shoulders and was carrying a big photo of Mandela as she stood in line at the stadium.
"I would not have the life I have today if it was not for him. I'm here to show my gratitude to Madiba. He was jailed so we could have our freedom," said Matlhogonolo Mothoagae, 24, a marketing student, as he lined up to enter the stadium.