Hugh Masekela and Vusi Mahlasela, two South African musical luminaries, bring peace and a party to D.C. this weekend

The sign language interpreter accused of making “unintelligible” gestures during Nelson Mandela’s memorial service in South Africa yesterday opens up to AP. The story is far weirder than you can imagine.

“Mandela taught us the power of action, but also ideas; the importance of reason and arguments; the need to study not only those you agree with, but those who you don’t,” Obama said today from South Africa.

Obama stopped to shake Castro’s hand as he made his way to the podium to speak on Mandela’s legacy.

D.C. will mourn the loss of Nelson Mandela with a week’s worth of memorial events.

Beginning today, the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African Art will display a condolence book for the family of Nelson Mandela open for the public to sign.

“Nelson Mandela’s profound legacy will forever inspire all who fight for human rights and peace around the globe,” Mayor Vince Gray said.

“His journey from a prisoner to a president embodied the promise that human beings and countries can change for the better.”

To honor the ailing icon on what’s known as “Mandela Day,” TransAfrica, the Embassy of the Republic of South Africa and the Coalition of Black Trade Unionists will hold a celebration tonight in D.C.

Happy first weekend of September – and happy Labor Day weekend, too, for our American cities! Let’s take a look at what’s been happening around the Ist-a-verse. The deaths of two firefighters shook Bostonist this week. Boston’s firefighters bent over backwards all week long – first, they fought flames pouring from the Boston Tea Party museum, and then a restaurant fire killed two and injured many more. Their efforts make everything else – like Tom…