President Cyril Ramaphosa will travel to Chicago to speak at the homegoing celebration of life for the late Reverend Jesse Jackson on Saturday. The event follows a public ceremony on Friday attended by prominent US figures. Ramaphosa's participation comes at the request of the Jackson family.
President Cyril Ramaphosa is set to depart South Africa on Thursday night for Chicago, where he will attend the “Homegoing Celebration of Life for Reverend Jesse Jackson” on Saturday. He has been invited to deliver remarks at the event by the Jackson family.
The Saturday gathering in Chicago caps a series of memorials for Jackson, who died last month at 84 after struggling with a neurological disorder that impaired his speech and mobility, alongside a long-term Parkinson’s diagnosis. Preceding it is a public homegoing ceremony on Friday at the House of Hope, a 10,000-seat arena in the city. That event is anticipated to draw leading Democratic Party members, including former first families: the Bidens, Obamas, and Clintons.
Performances at the Friday ceremony will feature singer and actress Jennifer Hudson, as well as gospel artists Pastor Marvin Winans and Bebe Winans. Remarks are expected from Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson.
Ramaphosa has previously described Jackson as a global moral authority committed to justice as a borderless human pursuit. The two leaders shared a moment in 2018 during the Gandhi Walk event.
Jackson's passing has prompted tributes worldwide, highlighting his lifelong advocacy for equality and civil rights.
