Obama's 16th annual Mandela lecture begins in Johannesburg
Barack Obama
Obama began his speech by a confession that he was not invited to be here and with a second pause, he says he was ordered in a very nice way.
Former United States President, Barack Obama began his 16th annual Mandela lecture atBidvest Wanderers stadium inJohannesburg to mark the 100th birth anniversary --celebrated around the world every year on July 18 -- of Nelson Mandela on Tuesday.
Obama began his speech by a confession that he was not invited to be here and with a second pause, he says he was ordered in a very nice way.
"I was not invited to be here... I was ordered in a very nice way by Graca Machel to be here," Obama said.
Obama then continues, ''It is a singular honour for me to be here with all of you as we gather to celebrate the birth and life of one of history’s true giants.”
Obama in his speech is expected use the annual Nelson Mandela Lecture to highlight how Mandela, a Nobel Peace Prize winner, kept up his campaign against apartheid - or white minority rule - in spite of what appeared to be insurmountable odds.
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The speech will focus on issues like inequality and other issues affecting South Africa and the rest of the world.
This year the speech's theme is "renewing the Mandela Legacy and promoting active citizen in a changing world."
According to media reports, about 9,000 people are expected to attend the event.
Mandela was imprisoned for 27 years as part of his fight on charges of conspiring to overthrow the state, before emerging from Robben Island prison and going on to lead his nation.
The former US president met Mandela only briefly in 2005 but gave a eulogy at his funeral saying Mandela "makes me want to be a better man" and hailing him as "the last great liberator of the 20th century".