Madiba, South Africa's first black president has been buried at his ancestral home.

He was laid to rest in Qunu, in the east of the country, following a state funeral service attended by around 4,500 people. Mr Mandela's burial was a private ceremony, with only a few hundred family, friends and dignitaries present at the graveside. The vehicle carrying Mr Mandela's casket, covered with a national flag, arrived at the family compound under cloudy skies at 4 pm local time. It was accompanied by an enormous convoy of police, military and other vehicles, and a military helicopter hovered overhead. According to Xhosa tribal tradition, Mr Mandela was honoured as a leader by placing a skin on the coffin, replacing the flag. Mr Mandela's journey started yesterday with pomp and ceremony at an air base in the capital before being flown aboard a military plane to Qunu village. At the Mthatha airport the former president's casket was welcomed by a military guard and placed in a convoy for the 20 mile (32km) voyage toward Qunu. Residents and people who had travelled for hours thronged a road leading to Qunu, singing and dancing as Mandela T-shirts were handed out. Tata may your soul rest in peace