Nelson Mandela welcomes Michelle Obama on Africa tour

The First Lady Michelle Obama and her daughters had a surprise in store for them on their African tour when former South African President and hero of the anti - apartheid movement Nelson Mandela made a request to meet with them.

The First Lady received word that Mandela had wanted to meet her and her daughters, Malia and Sasha, while they were in town as part of the tour of Africa which resulted today in a speech where the call to advance women’s rights was made.

Mandela, 93 next month, met President Obama when he made a visit to Africa as a senator in 2006, but it was the first time he had a chance to meet the First Lady.

The First Lady and her daughters spent roughly 20 minutes with Mandela, who looked well in his first public appearance since he was released from medical care in January after suffering from an acute respiratory infection.

Michelle Obama began her day in South Africa yesterday by visiting Nompumelelo Ntuli-Zuma wife of President Jacob Zuma, at his official residence in Pretoria. She later met Mandela's wife at his foundation's offices.

The tour included a speech in which she urged young Africans to fight for the rights of women using her husband’s, President Barack Obama, former campaign slogan ‘Yes We Can’ to motivate young people across the continent.

Her speech to a group of young women and men at Regina Mundi Church touched on topics such as race, discrimination, democracy and development.

Drawing on the leaders of the anti-apartheid movement in South Africa and the civil rights movement in the United States Michelle Obama said:

"It is because of them that we are able to gather here today...It is because of them that I stand before you as First Lady of the United States of America," she said to applause.

"That is the legacy of the independence generation, the freedom generation. And all of you - the young people of this continent - you are the heirs of that blood, sweat, sacrifice, and love."

"You can be the generation that stands up and says that violence against women in any form, in any place, including the home - especially the home - that isn't just a women's rights violation. It's a human rights violation."