Bono Pens Heartrending Tribute to Idol and Friend Nelson Mandela

FUSE TV - Bono Pens Heartrending Tribute to Idol and Friend Nelson Mandela

Just two weeks ago, U2 released their first new song in four years, a single from the Nelson Mandela biopic, Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom.Today, the day after Mandela's death at 95, frontman Bono published a letter in Time honoring the life of his friend and idol.

"As an activist I have pretty much been doing what Nelson Mandela tells me since I was a teenager, " he wrote in the opening.

He went on to speak about the Irish connection to Mandela's anti-apartheid efforts. "From our point of view, the question as to how bloody South Africa would have to get on its long road to freedom was not abstract," Bono explained, referencing the struggles that wracked Ireland during U2's early days.

Bono also paid tribute to the venerated leader's fight against poverty and dedication to progress. "Without Mandela, would Africa be experiencing its best decade of growth and poverty reduction?" Bono wrote. "His indispensability can’t be proved with math and metrics, but I know what I believe…"

Bono is a multi-year Nobel Peace Prize nominee himself and has dedicated the bulk of his humanitarian efforts to Africa. In 2008, he was crowned as the annual "Man of Peace" by the Nobel laureates for his work tackling African debt, poverty and disease.

But in addition to Mandela's humanitarian work, the "Bloody Sunday" singer also spoke to the beloved politician's personal qualities, including his humor and charm.

"He had humor and humility in his bearing, and he was smarter and funnier than the parade of world leaders who flocked to see him. He would bait his guests: 'What would a powerful man like you want with an old revolutionary like me?'"

Despite being an emotive person, Bono explained in closing that Mandela was physically unable to cry as a result of injury to his tear ducts after many, many years of working at a limestone mine while he was imprisoned.

"Mandela could still see," he wrote. "But the dust damage to his tear ducts had left him unable to cry. For all this man’s farsightedness and vision, he could not produce tears in a moment of self-doubt or grief.  He had surgery in 1994 to put this right. Now, he could cry. Today, we can."

In case you aren't done crying yet, check out Bono and company's musical tribute to Mandela, the poignant and impassioned anthem "Ordinary Love" below.

Jennifer Aniston: More Than Friends

57m

Jennifer Aniston: More Than Friends

My "Friend" Fumbled My Bag

2m

My "Friend" Fumbled My Bag

New York Rapper G Fella Pens Anthem for Playoff Knicks: G-Thing

1m

New York Rapper G Fella Pens Anthem for Playoff Knicks: G-Thing

Suck It Up and Go to Mars

21m

Suck It Up and Go to Mars

How to make Dave East's Steak and Eggs

49s

How to make Dave East's Steak and Eggs

Can Devon and Crystal Come to Some Resolution?

2m

Can Devon and Crystal Come to Some Resolution?

Former Cadet Bonds With Blue Devils Friends At Picnic

1m

Former Cadet Bonds With Blue Devils Friends At Picnic

How to Make Rick Ross' Homemade Spaghetti and Catfish

1m

How to Make Rick Ross' Homemade Spaghetti and Catfish

Blue Devils' Javier Astorga & Friends Discuss Paths On Hiking Adventure

1m

Blue Devils' Javier Astorga & Friends Discuss Paths On Hiking Adventure

G Fella and Suits Back to Their Roots: G-Thing

2m

G Fella and Suits Back to Their Roots: G-Thing

Blackbear and Krewella

20m

Blackbear and Krewella

Cuffed and Stuffed

44m

Cuffed and Stuffed

Daters and Haters

22m

Daters and Haters

Wet and Wild

22m

Wet and Wild

Coheed and Cambria

19m

Coheed and Cambria

Mike and Gabe

40m

Mike and Gabe

Levi and Troy

40m

Levi and Troy

Cheech and Chong

18m

Cheech and Chong

Health and Wellness

21m

Health and Wellness

Drama and Trauma

46m

Drama and Trauma

Listen and Learn

46m

Listen and Learn

Ellie and Abbie

1h 17m

Ellie and Abbie

Sugar and Toys

Sugar and Toys

Bisexuals and Strippers

41m

Bisexuals and Strippers

Sex and Society

24m

Sex and Society

Casino and UBIQ

9m

Casino and UBIQ

Grace and Hannah

40m

Grace and Hannah

Divide and Conquer

44m

Divide and Conquer

Divide And Conquer

20m

Divide And Conquer

Young M.A. and Ayo and Teo - Long Cut

20m

Young M.A. and Ayo and Teo - Long Cut

Gloria and Emilio Estefan

22m

Gloria and Emilio Estefan

Black, Brown and Red

24m

Black, Brown and Red

Mike, Gabe and Troy

40m

Mike, Gabe and Troy

Beauty and the Bleach

56m

Beauty and the Bleach

Elle and Tito Live

23m

Elle and Tito Live

Analise, Matthew and Daley

40m

Analise, Matthew and Daley

Mr. Throwback and Greats

9m

Mr. Throwback and Greats

Matthew, Analise and Hunter

40m

Matthew, Analise and Hunter

Flesh and the City

45m

Flesh and the City

Analise, Daley and Hunter

40m

Analise, Daley and Hunter

Sugar and Toys - Trailer

30s

Sugar and Toys - Trailer

King Push and FILA

10m

King Push and FILA

Ice-T and Coco

22m

Ice-T and Coco

Che and HSM3 Premieres

22m

Che and HSM3 Premieres

DaniLeigh and Saweetie

20m

DaniLeigh and Saweetie

Knuckles and Success: G-Thing

1m

Knuckles and Success: G-Thing

Leave the Duckies and Go

21m

Leave the Duckies and Go

And Then There Were Five

45m

And Then There Were Five

Up NYC and Reebok Freebanz

11m

Up NYC and Reebok Freebanz

Wilmer Valderrama and Terry Crews

20m

Wilmer Valderrama and Terry Crews

Cam'ron, Stance, and Nike

9m

Cam'ron, Stance, and Nike

LA and Xristina Talk Transitioning

1m

LA and Xristina Talk Transitioning

And Then There Were Six

46m

And Then There Were Six

Teyana Taylor and Jhené Aiko

20m

Teyana Taylor and Jhené Aiko

The River and the Wall

1h 45m

The River and the Wall

T-Pain and Jhene Aiko

20m

T-Pain and Jhene Aiko

Nice Kicks and Jason Markk

11m

Nice Kicks and Jason Markk

Prince Royce and J Balvin

20m

Prince Royce and J Balvin

Marlon Wayans and Bow Wow

20m

Marlon Wayans and Bow Wow

Gina Rodriguez and Steve Aoki

20m

Gina Rodriguez and Steve Aoki

Melii Make Rice and Beans

20m

Melii Make Rice and Beans

Beauty and the Bleach - Trailer

30s

Beauty and the Bleach - Trailer

Elle and Tito: Just Married

Elle and Tito: Just Married

Nick Cannon and Lilly Singh

20m

Nick Cannon and Lilly Singh

Jill Scott and Marc Anthony

22m

Jill Scott and Marc Anthony

Lil Jon and Amber Rose

20m

Lil Jon and Amber Rose

Lil Jon and Cam'ron

20m

Lil Jon and Cam'ron

Sticks, Stones and Breaking Bones

20m

Sticks, Stones and Breaking Bones

Two to Tango

46m

Two to Tango

Right To Twerk

20m

Right To Twerk

Toe to Toe

1h 43m

Toe to Toe

License to Breed

23m

License to Breed

Welcome To Hollywood

21m

Welcome To Hollywood

Care to Laugh

1h 16m

Care to Laugh

Maid To Order

45m

Maid To Order

Filmmakers To Watch

Filmmakers To Watch

A$AP Ferg and Rick Ross

20m

A$AP Ferg and Rick Ross

The King and Queen of  Bounce

21m

The King and Queen of Bounce

Joe Diaz, O'Brien and Valdez

45m

Joe Diaz, O'Brien and Valdez

SofÍa Reyes and Arianny Celeste

19m

SofÍa Reyes and Arianny Celeste

Elle and Tito: The Married Life

Elle and Tito: The Married Life

Meagan Good and Lil Rel Howery

20m

Meagan Good and Lil Rel Howery

T-Pain and Young M.A

20m

T-Pain and Young M.A

The Fat Jewish and King Bach

20m

The Fat Jewish and King Bach

Toe to Toe - Trailer

2m

Toe to Toe - Trailer

Sea to Shining Sea

1h 21m

Sea to Shining Sea

Welcome to The 212

20m

Welcome to The 212

Down to the Wire

45m

Down to the Wire

Care to Laugh - Trailer

2m

Care to Laugh - Trailer

Whitney: Born to Sing

41m

Whitney: Born to Sing

Welcome to the Jungle

46m

Welcome to the Jungle

Go Back to China

1h 21m

Go Back to China

Hail To The King

22m

Hail To The King

Who Came To Win?

20m

Who Came To Win?

Amanda Cerny and Big Freedia Sh!tshow

20m

Amanda Cerny and Big Freedia Sh!tshow

Rogelio Shows Off "Rotography" and Editing Skills

1m

Rogelio Shows Off "Rotography" and Editing Skills

Melissa and G-Fella BBQ: G-Thing

1m

Melissa and G-Fella BBQ: G-Thing

Nya and Bambiana Bond At Cat Cafe

1m

Nya and Bambiana Bond At Cat Cafe

The Read With Kid Fury and Crissle

The Read With Kid Fury and Crissle

Lil Jon and Nude DM's on Tour

3m

Lil Jon and Nude DM's on Tour