Just hearing the news of the death of Nelson Mandela, on impulse and without plans, Andrea Bastogi took the first flight to dive into what is considered “the most impressive funeral in history”. Without the press and in the midst of thousands of Africans in line, he documents the emotion and joy in a moment of extreme farewells to the man who restored dignity, hope and freedom to his people. The images bring us among the people of Mandela before the funeral and then later through the streets of the towns and villages of South Africa. Parallel stories of a society at large.

The spirit cannot be imprisoned in a cell or in a coffin. The spirit is always ahead. Andrea Bastogi, with his work, makes it palpable, breathable.