Anti - apartheid hero Nelson Mandela laid to rest in his childhood village . Death and burial ended 10 days of mourning for South Africa 's first black president . More than 4,000 people gathered at Mandela 's funeral service in a tent in the Qunu area . Tribal elders held a vigil and a family prayer service took place Sunday morning . His family told CNN 's Chris Johnson they believed his spirit was now at home .
Anti - apartheid hero Nelson Mandela laid to rest in his childhood village . Death and burial ended 10 days of mourning for South Africa 's first black president . More than 4,000 people gathered at Mandela 's funeral service in a tent in the Qunu area . His family told CNN 's Chris Johnson they believed his spirit was now at home .