Nelson Mandela had every reason to celebrate in Qunu, Eastern Cape, yesterday when relatives gathered at his homestead to welcome his eighth great-grandchild.
The infant, born in a private hospital in Johannesburg two weeks ago, was placed into 93-year old Mandela's arms before the former leader was asked to give him a name.
The latest addition to the Madiba clan is Mandla Mandela's first child with his French-speaking wife, Nobubele, who comes from the Indian Ocean island of Réunion. Mandla, a traditional leader of Mandela's birthplace, Mvezo, is Mandela's grandson and heir.
Preparations for the private family ritual to appease the ancestors and welcome the child to the family's homestead started on Thursday.
Yesterday, Mandla told the Sunday Times: "We are very happy as a family ... and especially since Dalibhunga [the praise name for Mandela] is still alive to welcome and name his great-grandchild."
Yesterday's gathering happened just six days after rumours made the rounds on social network Twitter that Mandela had died.
Mandela's aide Zelda la Grange reportedly tweeted: "You want a rumour to stop? Stop speaking about it. Thank you!!" The messages on Twitter raised concerns over Mandela's health.
But yesterday, Mandela's close relatives and friends in Qunu said he had been in "high spirits" since arriving in the village in July.
One source, close to the family, revealed that Mandela's family had surrendered to his demands to move back to Qunu after his frequent bouts of anger, refusal to eat and even maintaining hours of silence, in protest at being kept at his Houghton mansion in Johannesburg.
Mandela arrived in Qunu on July 14, having recovered from a respiratory infection, accompanied by members of his security detail and his medical team.
A relative who saw him at the family homestead this week said Mandela appeared to be in "good health", although he spends most of the time sleeping.
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