Johannesburg (dpa) - Barack Obama, the first black president of the United States, will pay homage on Tuesday to the late Nelson Mandela, South Africa's first black leader, on the centenary of his birth.
Obama's keynote address is one of the many events being held in South Africa and around the world to mark the milestone birthday on July 18 of global icon Mandela, who spent 27 years in prison for the struggle against South Africa's racist apartheid government.
Thousands of people are expected to attend Obama's lecture in Johannesburg, titled: "Renewing the Mandela Legacy and Promoting Active Citizenship in a Changing World."
Other well-known figures in attendance will be Mandela's widow, Graca Machel, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, and Archbishop Desmond Tutu. Former UN secretary general, Ban Ki-moon, and former US president Jimmy Carter are also scheduled to attend.
In 2013, Obama paid a moving tribute at Mandela's funeral and often speaks of great influence Mandela had on him.
"Madiba's moral courage ... has been a personal inspiration to me," he once said.
It will be Obama's first major public address since Donald Trump replaced him as US president, though he is not expected to mention his controversial successor.
While Obama's speech will be the main event to mark Mandela's centenary, various others are also being planned on the sidelines.
New bank notes have been issued in honour of Mandela's 100 years, prisoners have crocheted a massive blanket with his image, that can be seen from space, while ordinary South Africans have been urged to involve themselves in charitable works.
British newspapers reported that Prince Harry and his wife Meghan will be attending the launch of a major exhibition on Mandela's life in London.
Another tribute to Mandela, the Global Citizenship Festival in December, will see South Africa's shores graced by a number of pop stars, including Beyonce. People have to be involved in activism to earn free admission to the festival instead of buying the tickets.
