follow us on be facebook twitter google plus and more. >> this is al jazeera america live from new york. i'm jonathan betz with the headlines. the journey for the iconic world statesman nelson mandela ended this morning, laid to rest in qunu south africa. the small village where his life began 95 years ago. most of the funeral was broadcast but in the end the cameras were turned off >> thousands in key eve demanded the ukraine government sign a deal with the e.u., instead of

russia. >> secretary of state john kerry described the execution of kim jong un's uncle as reckless and underscores the danger in the region. kim's uncle was considered the second-most powerful figure in north korea. >> and british actor peter o'toole died in london after a long illness. he was known for his role in "lawrence of arabia". he was 81. now "nelson mandela remembered" starts right now.

[ singing ] >> we beseech you in your kindness. >> madeba will emerge as the greatest man in the 21st century. the world thank you for sharing this man with us. >> hello, i'm tony harris, when president obama delivered his yulolgy for nelson mandela he said, "hard to capture the qualities of a person, the qualities that illuminate a soul. so much harder for a giant of history, a man who moved a nation to justice and billions around the world." during the broadcast we'll bring you images from the farewells in south africa, a week of heart felt celebrations of the quiet but charismatic leader who led a nation out of darkness.

whelm look at his life, purpose and legacy. nelson mandela himself would tell you there is so much to be done. this is nelson mandela remembered. we begin with how the world learnt of his passing. we come back with breaking news. the president of south africa, jacob zuma is speaking. >> nelson mandela, the founding president of our democratic nation has departed. >> it is 7:00 pm eastern time in new york, 2am in johannesburg, where mourners, as you can see are gathering outside nelson mandela's home. they are celebrating the life of south africa's first democratically elected president. you are looking at the scenes, people paying respects for a man imprisoned for believing in freedom and equality, a man who

became a towering symbol for human rights, equality. >> people of all walks of life, religions, colours and ages gather here, this is the south africa nelson mandela dreamed. nelson mandela inspired people around the world. mourners gather outside the embassy. >> former president george w. bush and laura bush expressed condolences, releasing a statement staying: -- saying:

>> we will not see the likes of nelson mandela again. so it falls to us, as best we can, to forge the example that he set. >> this seems to be turning into a celebration of the life of nelson mandela. >> i can barely hear you through all the din. there's about two restaurants below me, filled with people drinking and dancing up and down the road behind me. all day we see people selling ice-creams, t-shirts, and people remembering this man. >> when you and the community in london received word, what was the reaction? >> yesterday was a terrible day. when we washed the screens and saw people on the ground celebrating his achievements and life, a acknowledging what he hd

achieved there was a bitter-sweet feeling in everyone's mouths. >> in memory of nelson mandela, he changed our world. a lot of people in harlem and new york remember when he came in 1990. the mark key was a big part of it, saying welcome home mr and mrs nelson mandela. he visited in 1990. there was a huge crowd. a huge parade. a lot of people we spoke to found out about his death coming by after work. in harlem his visit brought a lot of hope. a lot of people saw him pointing at the apollo theatre. there is hope. if this man could spend that much time in prison and never gave in or up for antiapartheid, so, of course, that would be reflected in the community that he was visiting. we felt positive that will by him being here, there's nothing

we can't do. >> he has given a gift to african-americans that i cannot think of anyone else giving. >> his mind was as sharp at 70 as it was at 40. he never lost the sharpness of his mind. whenever we have private conversations you were overwhelmed by the depth and breath of his concern. >> there i am with reverend jessie jackson and nelson mandela. he is take the photo so the reverend can put his wife on the phone to give a quick hello. the morning i met former president nelson mandela, he spoke in his incredible person and said, "morgan, are you here to visit me this morning?" and was reading four newspapers, one in afrikaans, one in

english, one and zulu, and his mind was so sharp. he was brilliant, vibe rant, cheeky and charismatic and all the things you would expect from a man who changed the world. >> when you meet him for the first time he was a statue esque regal manned but he was so gentle, fine, funny. >> he was godfather to your child. >> what happened when helena was born he called and said, "i have named your child kasade because it means the one who took a long time to come", because when she sees me now she'll see an old man and start crying. >> he will be remembered as one of the people that made the world a better place. he did not like people to fuss over him, did not like the idea that people would want to say he's a saint, even though he was

to some of us. he would have been the first to say, "i'm just an ordinary person trying to do my best." >> nelson mandela said a person should be buried near the place his life began. that was his wish. that's where he came to rest. nelson mandela was laid to rest in qunu, a small village where he grew up, far from johannesburg, this was nelson mandela's return home. >> a final farewell for nelson mandela. >> south africa's first democratically elected

president. >> i'm thomas draytonry. >> and i'm richelle carey. the casket taken from his home to a giant marquee erected for this world event

. >> it's an interesting sort of compromise there, where we see the casket laid on top of cow hide or ox hide as a way of bringing the two together so you have at the bottom the animal slaughtered, the skip is there and at the top the flag, which tells us nelson mandela was a very complex man. >> the young man who left here seven decades ago, grew into a mighty leader. >> you brought a new world into being and taught us to live as citizens. >> this is the moment where they

are saying goodbye to nelson mandela who is a member of their family. >> he is a member of the family and this community, he had such a rich relationship with. his compound it half a mile that way. he's really had an open relationship with this community. a lot of people know him. he used to take walks behind the house. >> we think we are giving him the last respects today and he should rest. he has worked a lot for us. >> being a born free, i read - i saw how the documentary and all that happened. now i'm able to reach to whatever potential i can without being restricted, and that's the biggest gift he has given to us. >> this is the moment where we

have just said bye-bye to tata mandela. we are sad. deep in our hearts, but on the other hand we've got mixed feelings. we are happy, you know, for his life lived. we heard all the stories. we are so glad to be part of the funeral. >> today mingled with our grief is enormous pride that one of our own has during his lifetime and now in your death, uni-itemed the people of south africa and the entire world on a scale never before experienced in history. i have lost a brother. my life is in a void, and i don't know who to turn to.

>> farewell my dear brother, my mentor, my leader. >> nelson mandela was the first democratically-elected president of south africa, the first black man in that position. it is his fight against racism, south african apartheid that will be his enduring legacy. >> it is useless and futile for us to talk peace and nonviolence against a government whose reply is only savage attacks. >> in a moment the words and actions - what he said and what he did. the actions that sent him to prison for nearly three decades.

>> three years ago, it was 2010 - the last time nelson mandela would make a public appearance. it was the finals of the world cup. 85,000 were in the stadium that night. it was electrifying and historic. >> allen schauffler has more on the life the legend. >> he was a prisoner and a president. a violent revolutionary and moderate reformer, the face of change in turbulent south africa, his smile and strength powerful weapons in the fight for equality. he spent 27 years behind prison walls, 18 of which behind robben island. feb 11, 1990, the streets flowed with joy. the man who had become a powerful figure of resistance

walked free. >> vowing never to go back to what he called the black hell of apartheid. >> i have spoken about freedom in my lifetime. your struggle, your commitment and your discipline has released me to stand before you today. >> but freedom was not easy. nelson mandela negotiated with president f.w. de klerk to reform the government had to play peace keeper, trying to temper escalating violence between his party, the a.n.c., and supporters of the freedom party, who wanted no part of negotiations with a government that held them down for so lopping. thousands were killed in black on black fighting. >> through it all he led the

country towards broader democracy and in 1984 nelson mandela voted for himself. he won and was inaugurated as the first black president of the country. >> on this day you, the people, took your destiny into your own hands. you decided that nothing would prevent you from exercising your hard-won right to elect a government of your choice. >> he served a term, leading reforms in child healthcare and education, modernizing the infrastructure and pushing for racial healing. nelson mandela stepped down but did not slow his pace. his chaar itable institution raised money for different causes. graca machel, his third wife, was at his side through his battles with prostate cancer and

lingering lung infections that hostized him near the end. >> never, and never again, shall it be that this beautiful land will again experience the oppression of one by another, and suffer the indignity of being the skunk of the world. the sun shall never set on so glorious a human achievement. god bless africa. i thank you. [ clapping ] >> >> nelson mandela spent 27 years behind bars. 27 years. 18 of them spent on robben island, a prison off of the coast of cape town, the southern tip of south africa. there he was subjected to daily humiliations. in an astonishing act of

forgiveness he would later invite the same prison gaolers to attend his first state dinner as president. here is andrew simmonds. >> cut off near the southern tip of the african continent, an island chosen for one reason - it's isolation. >> nelson mandela described it as a prison within a prison, a harsh regime where racism ruled. this man was to become a confidante of nelson mandela. they were political prisoners under the system of apartheid, where white guards used heavily oppression. the only time you were allowed out was when an armed warden was on the catwalk. they were indoctrinated to believe that we were irresponsible terrorists, but they would not come near us in

case we pounce on them and take their gun. that's what they really believed. it took time for them to get used to the idea that we were ordinarily. >> the leaders of the struggle were held here in block b. back then a cell was marked nelson mandela 466, the year he arrived. >> most of nelson mandela's sol attitude was spent inside this tiny cell. the first thing that strikes you is how tiny it is. this is all there was for sanitation - a bucket. imagine trying to use this as a bed, in extreme temperatures of cold and heat, blankets and a mat. and the view from here - well, it's bleak. a blank wall and a courtyard. for 18 of his 27 years of

imprisonment, nelson mandela lived in this cell. >> it's difficult to imagine that we spend 18 years here. >> did you see a change in nelson mandela. i have read somewhere that he became softer and that the whole concept of forgiveness, reconciliation was born in prison because he became softer. that is not true. the policy of forgiveness, reconciliation and nonracialism was a.n.c. policy. it didn't take prison to do that. >> the regime tried to play down how badly it was treelting the a.n.c. prisoners. this photograph was a staged event. >> you didn't know this was taken, did you. >> we didn't know this photograph was taken. >> the government was trying to make the world think nelson

mandela was doing light work. the prisoners wondered why for one day only the labouring got easy. it got tougher later, when it moved to an open lime quarry. 13 years of hard toil, breaking rock. a damaging reflection of stone damaging their eye sight. when they weren't labouring they were allowed visits in this gloomy building. nelson mandela's second wife winnie, an activist herself, came under a travel ban. nelson mandela waited two years between her visits at one stage. >> there was a minimum of six months between each visit. there was no contact, and a screen between husband and wife. winnie sat this time. a maximum of a 30 minute conversation, every word it of bugged. >> obviously they didn't record all the prisoners.

they recorded nelson mandela without fail. it's difficult, if not impossible to guess what is going on inside. very, very difficult. naturally he must have felt things. i mean, after all, he was a human being like us, but he doesn't show it. >> outside the violence was increasing. nothing was known of the soweto uprising for three months, when new arrivals at the prison brought the news, and with it a new anger. >> they were impatient. they were very brave, courageous, but they wanted to fight. they wanted to fight physically in prison. against the warders. we had to talk to them and dissuade them. it took a bit of time, but we succeeded. >> was nelson mandela forceful in that regard? >> very much so.

i mean, he and mr sulu were the leaders. susulo was the father-figure. they were different personalities. >> if you call susulo the father, what would nelson mandela be? >> the elder brother. >> the elder brother - in captivity, resolute and calm. challenging procedures, rejecting intimidation, qualities that help make him the president of south africa. how will his fellow prisoner remember him. >> i'd say courageous, selfless, prepared to sacrifice everything for what he considered to be the cause of the people, of all the oppressed people in this country. he had tremendous foresight not only in regard to south africa, but internationally as well.

a caring, compassionate person. he would put his own personal concerns into backburner when he sees his first duty was towards fellow prisoners. and that over and over again. he had problems. there was family detentions, bannings, all that. that never interfered with what he considered to be his responsibility towards us. he went through everything with us and that was characteristical. >> one characteristic of many that matured while he suffered on the island. they set out to break him. what happened was the reverse. one important stage in the making of a remarkable man. >> many will tell you one of the most extraordinary things about nelson mandela was his ability

to forgive. consider the unlikely but lasting friendship he forged with those that kept him captive. nick schifrin with that story. >> on the notorious robben island two men who did time with nelson mandela, on opposite sides of the bars. >> every day the prisoners have a view? >> yes, of the outside. >> christo was nelson mandela's guard. at first they scared hum. >> they were in for life. people was held. >> for six years this was an inmate. he worked the limestone quarry, and christo was his guard. >> christo's colleagues stand on top, some around this side. >> the guard prisoner relationship might sound

adversarial, but nelson mandela initiated friendship. the guard used to smuggle in bread, hair oil and later his granddaughter. i was surprised he could have reacted to his enemy, talking nicely, friendly. never cross. treating us like a human being. >> nelson mandela used that relationship to learn the language of his enemy. >> when he was released he spoke afrikaans. the assistance of the wardens. >> they may have helped, but the white men were guards and the black men prisoners. from guards, to inmates and politics they mocked it. there was a lot saying, "in your dreams you'll ever take over the country." that's what the prisoners did. it started from this cave where nelson mandela talked and plotted.

>> planning how are we going to do it. >> was there any doubt that you would one day rule south africa? >> there was no doubt. we had this >> they felt they knew whites better than whites knew them and used it to their advantage. >> mr president, we speak the language, study the language and speak better afrikaans than them. that's what nelson mandela taught, to know your enemy better. that's what you do, >> by creating a friendship stopping short of trust. by the end you trusted? >> no, i'm a trained soldier. i know how to treat the enemy. you don't put trust in the enemy. >> do you think nelson mandela trusted him? >> i think he's like me. keep the man open. keep the man open. and one thing that you must

know, he must always be on top of man. >> he really saw you as his friend, didn't he? >> yes >> and you see him as your friend. >> as a father. >> today christo doesn't think nelson mandela used him, but feels nelson mandela extended the same olive branch he later extended to all whites. >> whilst inside prison he was something for the people to believe in, look forward for maybe one day >> did you believe in him? >> yes. >> a man who made believers of his friends and foes to free his people. >> marathon 90 leaders from around the world made the journey to johannesburg to celebrate an honour - nelson

mandela. >> the joyous event up next. >> all he does is make you feel comfortable. he makes you feel like you're the important one. >> a profound dignity, the warmth, the smile. this was the last time nelson mandela sat for a photo session. it was for a favourite charity. what those moments were like - coming up.

[ singing ]

>> reaction was instant - moving and powerful images of nelson mandela flashed around the world. a few days later more than 90 world leaders joined tens of thousands in a johannesburg soccer stadium for an owe initial service, from cuba, britain and china, all coming to honour nelson mandela and his life. from united states president

jimmy carter bill clinton and george w. bush as well as current president barack obama came to pay tribute. >> it is hard to eulogise any man. to capture in words not just the facts, the dates that makes a life, but the essential truth of a person, their private joys and sorrows, required moments and unique qualities that illuminate someone's sole. harder to do so for a client of history who moved a nation towards justice and in the process moved millions around the world.

>> the opening chapters of the holy koran. all praise is due to the almighty. [ singing ] >> this stadium holds tens of thousands of people. in an area as big as af can -- african continents cannot contain our pain today.

[ singing ] >> let us pay emotional tribute to nelson mandela, the ultimate symbol of dignity and a waivering dedication to the revolutionary struggle for freedom and justice. >> everyone has had a nelson mandela moment, when this world icon has touched their lives.

[ singing ]

>> despite the celebrations of his life it is important to remember there have been so many difficult steps in nelson mandela's journey. not long after his release from prison in 1990 he set out on a tour of the united states. he was met with controversy. when in prison cuba's fidel kavt ra -- cast roe supported nelson mandela. and he thanked him. that angered african-americans and miami. it was known as the quiet riot. >> honouring nelson mandela with a proclamation was not expected to be controversial. >> when i became mayor the whole thing seemed juvenile this they refused to issue a proclamation

to nelson mandela, that they gave to a bartender if he opened a new store. >> six mayors denounce said the leader. after thanking fidel kavt ra, yasser arafat, and muammar gaddafi for support of the antiapartheid movement. >> the cuban government provided assistance to the antiapartheid movement, specifically nelson mandela's a.n.c. african national congress, and nelson mandela's position was, "i am not going to denounce anyone that helped me. your enemy is not necessarily my enemy." >> the powerful cuban communities of south florida were outraged, pressuring local leaders to snub nelson mandela. >> it was one of the best days in the history of miami and one of the worst. the great nelson mandela came to miami and we had an opportunity

to hear and see this great man. the presence caused political leader to snub him. >> that outraged and energised members of the community. ht smith organised an african-american-led boycott from fort lauder dale to'. this fight for freedom that nelson mandela lived did not deserve for him to be treated that way. >> this quiet riot lasted almost three years. >> the boycott was harming my city tremendously and millions each year. we lost tourism. the black community was furious. >> the mayor wanted tond the shapter. in 1992 he issued a

proclamation. it was a fire storm, some of my best friends stopped me in the street. how could you have done that. there was phone calls, and my wife received one and said, "let him burn in an oven", talking about me. i was fully aware of all the political implications and i didn't give a dam. >> it would be a year before the boycott ended in 1993. the boycott was a success. it was leverage to promote opportunities for african americans in the industry. it led to the construction of the first hotel and convention centre. years later nelson mandela would visit after being made the south african president. >> what i learned from nelson mandela is nobody hands you a dream. especially the bigger the dream the less likely that someone will hand it to you and the bigger the dream the bigger the

sacrifice. >> how did nelson mandela view his treatment in south florida. nelson mandela forgave his detractors, understanding where they were coming from. he hoped in intervening years they'd respect his position, even if they didn't agree with it. >> a few years ago nelson mandela sat for a photo session. for the photographer it was deeply inspiring. >> in 2011 we shot a portrait for him for the "21 icons" projects. it was absolutely unforgettable experience.

>> two years ago nelson mandela agreed to pose for photos to raise money for hospitals. the australian photographer remembers the day. >> the inspiration behind any

south african project tends to be nelson mandela. he was the drive for the "21 icons" project. for me he was an inspiration to me since my teens, since i sat in australia and watched him be released, with my parents. coming to south africa six years ago and living here was to understand what he had done. in 2011 we shot a portrait for the "21 icons" project and it was an absolute - absolutely unforgettable experience. for nelson mandela, it was another day in the life of nelson mandela. he's meeting people who are so inspired by him and taken with what he has achieved, and all he does is make you feel comfortable, like you are the important one. >> it's good. tilt it down. >> the reflection. the portrait metaphor of "the man in the mirror" is a metaphor

for south africa. his spirit. what he represents is in every single one of the people here. for the portrait it was strong for me that we needed to reflect upon ourselves about what nelson mandela had achieved, and nelson mandela's life. i think given access to shoot that portrait was a life-changing experience for the whole group. we were all very nervous. i photographed him a few times before, but not a proper portrait sitting. there's an intimacy to that. i looked up. all the crew were crying. the 2012 birthday shoot was a special shoot. sending that intimate time with the family and madeba. the family adore him and cherish the time they had with him. for many of the family they lost him for 27 years. to have this time with him now means everything to them. to watch nelson mandela's face

light up when a child comes over, that, for me was really extraordinary, to watch a great grandchild. to him, that chimed, he's tougher, he's granddad. to the rest of the world he's the most significant statesman, the most significant freedom fighter of the 20th century. to that little child at that moment he's just the old man between him and the birthday cake. that is a very enduring memory of nelson mandela. is his love of youth, his love of the innocence, his love of the absolute massive potential of children. you know, at that anal, and what he'd achieved and been through. he didn't need to find the energy to sit with us and look at the project and give us feedback and share his joy and his memories with us. i am eternally grateful i can spend intimate moments with him.

that's what madeba's legacy came to be, generations of men and women. >> nelson mandela would regret there was not enough time to accomplish everything he wanted to do. up next unfinished business, and the question - what next, after nelson mandela.

[ singing ] >> we will not likely see the likes of nelson mandela again. so it falls to us, as best we can, to forge the example that he set - to make decisions guided not by hate, but by love, to never discount the difference that one person can make, strive for a future worthy of his sacrifices. president obama talks about the dedication it will take to finish what nelson mandela

started. history will remember nelson mandela for his sacrifice and leadership in a fight to end apartheid. he was not finished. he often worried about what was left undone. nelson mandela was unable to bring an end to harsh economic inequalities. the gaps between the poorest blacks and wealthiest whites. more from ali velshi and mike hannah, but we start with nick schifrin. >> in the poorest corner of johannesburg the tv barely receives nelson mandela's memorial. this is a notorious township where crime is high, sanitation low and garbage rarely collected. here they mourn a man considered a saint. this woman struggled, working for white families. >> and freddy runs a bar. it's noon on tuesday, but it's

busy. here they toasted tata or father. >> respect, and what have we achieved because of him and what we learned, and how to live with other people. >> nelson mandela didn't only promise racial equality, he promised economic equality. >> the economic equality hasn't been fulfilled. unemployment is 60%, whites make more money than black people. >> this is where freddy lives, behind the bar. >> i sleep on that, cover with the blanket. >> you've been here 12 years and you sleep on the floor and have no bathroom. >> for sure. >> why do you stay? >> i don't have any option. s >> scratch beneath the surface, host are too worried about their

daily lives to attend a memorial service. >> we don't have hope any more. since we voted, 18 to 19 years, we never achieved a better life for all. it's survival of the fittest. >> freddy shows me pictures of his five kids. he has come to try to make a living. his patience is wearing thin. >> we try to be patient, but we cannot take this any more. down the road miriam nonetheless is a comfortable home. but says black south africans are not fully free. >> are there opportunities? >> no. there's no life. >> this is alexandra township, a township surrounding johannesburg, where under

apartheid blacks had to live. this is now part of the johannesburg, and a lot of the people that live here work in johannesburg or pretoria. that's the promise. those are single-family homes built by the government since the end of apartheid. they have power, and they have water tanks, hot water. the streets have electricity, they are paved. that's the promise. this is the unfulfilled promise. many of the people that live in the townships live in shan'ties, informal houses. tin roofs, there are rats. this area was built in 1912 to house 70,000 people. there might be up to three-quarters of a million people here and by the way we are less than a couple of miles from the richest part of africa where there are more million airs than anywhere else. talk about a bifurcated economy

of have not. we are in the middle of it. >> prayers for a man who touched the lives of all. in the void left by nelson mandela's death, an awareness of challenges to come. the growing gap between rich and poor is the most brutal reminder that nelson mandela's promise of a better life is still to be realised. >> the chen we have doesn't lead nelson mandela, but us to face the reality if we don't do something logical the young will revolt. if they remain poor and a few richer, then the young people will revolt. >> the fault lines within the african society remain clear. a labour dispute led to the killing of 30 at the marikana

mine last year. at the root, a government that lost touch with those that put it in power. >> if you look at what happened over the last years in terms of public violence, you can see that we have many, many people who don't feel represented by those in government. and - they resort to violent because they don't feel hurt. those in the australian national congress, and those that spent a life-type in their ranks, what is seen is the government's tendency to blame the past. we are accountable. while we can say there's legacy issues left, we cannot, in a sense bring out coast of apartheid was the reason why we have problems today.

today's problems are our doing and requires political solution and a new way of thinking of solutions. >> the death of nelson mandela signals the end of an era, one dominated by a group of political tightans bound by friendship and the desire to create a better life for all. there's a question to be answered - whether a new generation of leaders can complete the work begun by those that are now gone. >> and nelson mandela's public memorial service a few days ago, president obama wondered allowed how hard it is to find the right words to remember a giant of history, how best to remember a man who moved a nation and the world. how best, apartheid is gone. thanks to nelson mandela and the

thousands who fought with him and sackrified so much. how best to remember nelson mandela? think about his journey and where he led the world. don't lose site of where he wanted to lead us. for all of us as al jazeera america, thank you for joining us. i'm tony harris. [ singing ] >> it's very important property. it's very important president. it's very important place. very important tata.

>> this is al jazeera america live from new york. i'm jonathan betz with tonight's headlines. the journey for the iconic world statesman nelson mandela ended this morning. he was laid to rest in qunu. the small village where his life beban 95 years ago. most of the funeral was broadcast around the world. cameras were turned off gifght family the last moments in private. the european union put the brakes on talks with the ukraine. protesters demanded the president sign the deal instead of closer ties with russia. john mccain and chris murphy travelled thereo