Africa World Cup opening ceremony 2010 images

Africa celebrates the continent's first ever World Cup with a burst of joy and colour... and lots of noise

By Mail Foreign Service

Last updated at 10:05 PM on 11th June 2010

The first World Cup ever held in Africa opened on Friday in a dazzling burst of joy, color and noise - and just a tinge of sadness.

Before a jubilant, horn-blowing crowd in Soccer City, the spectacular stadium between Johannesburg and Soweto, hundreds of African dancers in vivid greens, reds and yellows paraded onto the field for the opening ceremony of the month-long tournament.

Most of the fans were in the yellow jerseys of Bafana Bafana - the host country's team - which was playing Mexico following the pageantry.

An all-star cast of musicians, including South African trumpeter Hugh Masekela and American singer R. Kelley, performed

A general view of atmosphere during the Opening Ceremony ahead of the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa Group A match between South Africa and Mexico

A giant replica dung beetle was the star attraction of the ceremony, watched by an estimated 500million people.

The creature – revered in South Africa because it nourishes the soil – led 1,000 dancers on to the pitch and showed off its dribbling skills.

But the elation was tempered by news that Nelson Mandela, the revered anti-apartheid leader and former South African president, would not attend the ceremony.

The 91-year-old Mandela is frail, and decided not to come after his 13-year-old great-granddaughter was killed in a car crash on the way home from Thursday night's World Cup concert.

The driver of the car in which she was travelling has now been charged with drink-driving and culpable homicide.

Several other icons of the anti-apartheid struggle in South Africa were on hand — including Mandela's former wife, Winnie, and Archbishop Desmond Tutu, who at one point was dancing in his seat to the music.

Former South Africa President F.W. De Klerk, who shared a Nobel Peace Prize with Mandela for negotiating an end to white-minority rule, also was present, organisers said.

Other VIPs included the presidents of South Africa and Mexico - Jacob Zuma and Felipe Calderon - and U.S. Vice President Joe Biden.

Artists perform during the World Cup opening ceremony at Soccer City in Johannesburg

Performers dance around a representation of the calabash cooking pot which inspired the design of Soccer City Stadium

Dancers perform behind a giant beetle during the Opening Ceremony ahead of the South Africa versus Mexico

A giant African beetle pushes a giant Jabulani ball during the opening ceremony

It was not an occasion for those who like it quiet. Many of the fans came equipped with vuvuzelas - the plastic horns which emit a loud and distinctive blare.

The trumpets made such a noise that free ear plugs were distributed outside the stadium to spectators.

Incredibly, the din from the horns was briefly drowned out by the overflight of military jets just before the ceremony started.

The public address announcer then begged the crowd to ease up on the horns so the global television audience could hear the music. The plea met with limited success.

An all-star cast of musicians, including South African trumpeter Hugh Masekela and American singer R. Kelley, performed. Cast members brought out large placards with the flags of the 32 nations competing in the tournament, holding them high as a final burst of fireworks ended the show.

Soccer City, which seats more than 90,000, wasn't yet full at the start of the ceremony. Thousands of fans were stuck in traffic jams on roads leading to the stadium - regaled along the way by groups of dancing, chanting young people in Bafana shirts and by vendors selling the multicolored South African flag.

Even the South African team coach was caught up in the traffic chaos - and was almost late for the opening game.

The match did not disappoint - South Africa took a surprise lead in the second half thanks to a spectacular goal by Siphiwe Tshabalal, but Mexico levelled things when Rafael Marquez hit the back of the net.

The South Africans could have snatched a late winner, but striker Katlego Mphela hit the post.

Last night's pre-tournament concert featured a host of international stars including Colombian pop star Shakira and US chart-toppers The Black Eyed Peas.

South Africa fans show their support during the ceremony

South African president Jacob Zuma took to the stage and thanked South Africans for the welcome they have given World Cup fans, and called on them 'to show the warmness for the whole duration of the tournament.'

One English couple attended the ceremony and planned to stay on for the opening game between South Africa and Mexico was 30-year-old Paul Shannon who was with his American wife Shannon.

The pair, from Chelmsford, Essex, are on a short break in South Africa which will also see them attend today's game between England and the USA in Rustenburg some 80 miles north-west of Johannesburg.

Wisconsin born Shannon said that she would be cheering on the American team while husband Paul added: 'It has been a great trip so far and after watching the first England game we will be going down to Cape Town.

'However, I have told Shannon that if the USA beats England I will not be talking to her for the rest of the trip!'

The FIFA 2010 Soccer World Cup kicks off with the opening match between hosts South Africa and Mexico

A South Africa fan blows a Vuvuzela as she awaits the Opening Ceremony ahead of the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa Group A match

South African dancers wearing colorful wigs perform at the Fan Zone in Rustenburg, South Africa

Jump: Artists perform during the World Cup opening ceremony

Tens of thousands of South African fans flock to the Fan Fest to see their team's first match of the World Cup in Durban

Several other icons of the anti-apartheid struggle in South Africa were on hand - including Mandela's former wife, Winnie, and Archbishop Desmond Tutu, who at one point was dancing in his seat to the music

Former South Africa President F.W. De Klerk, who shared a Nobel Peace Prize with Mandela for negotiating an end to white-minority rule, also was present, organisers said

South Africa's Siphiwe Tshabalala scores his sides first goal of the game during the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa, Group A match