Ancient traditions return Mandela to the earth Celebrations as Mandela arrives in home village Body of South Africa's first black president, Nelson Mandela, arrives in the village of Qunu ahead of Sunday's funeral. PT1M10S http://www.smh.com.au/action/externalEmbeddedPlayer?id=d-2zese 620 349 December 15, 2013 - 8:13AM Qunu: "When we come home, we want our private peace," says the family of Nelson Mandela. Celebration: Youngsters dance nearby the house of Nelson Mandela in Qunu where his coffin arrived on December 14. And now he is home, never to leave again, his spirit to join his ancestors, to dwell in the eaves of his home, to imbue the streams and the wind of the Transkei that he loved, and to quietly whisper advice to his people when they call on him for help. After the unprecedented pomp and ceremony of a 10-day state funeral, Nelson Mandela will come to rest in a private, traditional burial in the presence of his family and tribal leaders. The remains of the former South African president arrived at Qunu, his childhood home, on Saturday at the head of a kilometre-long convoy of motorcycles, dignitaries and uniformed army officers in vans, police cars and huge army trucks. Passing by: South Africans watch the hearse carrying the coffin of Nelson Mandela on its way to Qunu. The locals sang anti-apartheid songs and waved national flags as the military hearse rushed past, then looked wistfully in its wake. His flag-draped coffin was carried into his family home, overlooking the green hills of the tiny rural village, behind a rigorously-policed security cordon. From there ancient tradition took over. Old ways: Xhosa youths sit on a hillside overlooking Qunu before his funeral cortege arrives. South African minister Collins Chabane said the state funeral had been planned by the government in consultation with the family, from the memorial service at FNB stadium, to a three-day lying in state in Pretoria, to an ANC farewell at a military base on Saturday morning. However, some elements were left to the family alone. "The family told us, when we want to come home, we want our private peace and space," Mr Chabane said. Mandela was born a leader of his tribe, the abaThembu of the Xhosa nation, destined to be an adviser to kings. He was baptised into the Methodist church. According to custom, his coffin will sit in the bedroom of his home overnight, with family members standing vigil. On Sunday morning, at 8am local time, he will be told "Madiba, we are now burying you," and the funeral service will begin under a huge white marquee next to the family home. The service will be attended by 4500 guests: family, church leaders, government figures and international leaders (including Prince Charles). It will be broadcast on state television and conducted in accordance with the Methodist church, Mr Chabane said. Speakers at the service include the leaders of African nations, and South African President Jacob Zuma. After the service 450 VIPS - mainly family and traditional leaders - will go from the marquee a little way up the hill overlooking the farm. No media or public will be allowed to witness this part of the ceremony. From that vantage point, likely to become a place of pilgrimage, the grass bends in the wind and the only sounds are the distant bleats of the town's herds of sheep and goats. There the burial will take place in accordance with the old ways of the Thembu people. According to one report he will be wrapped in a special garment, such as a leopard skin, and an ox will be slaughtered and eaten by mourners. He will be addressed as Dalibhunga, the name he was given at the age of 16 at the circumcision ceremony marking his passage to manhood. It means "founder of the Bungha," the traditional ruling body of the Transkei, marking him as a young leader. Members of the Xhosa people will walk to the Mandela farm from miles around, according to tradition. However, they will be met by army roadblocks and redirected to three viewing areas with video screens on the surrounding hillsides, two of them almost a kilometre from the ceremony. Behind one of them an army of media has set up camp, ready to relay the event to the world. But the last steps of Mandela's long walk home will stay an intimate secret.