Bono joins in chorus of praise for Mandela

Bono yesterday praised Nelson Mandela’s “life without sanctimony” — and his ability to prise donations for his foundation from the unlikeliest of sources.

Writing in Time magazine, the U2 frontman’s tribute attracted some criticism from Twitter users but also praise from other readers.

Adding his voice to the chorus of tributes to the late South African leader, Bono wrote: “He has been a forceful presence in my life going back to 1979, when U2 made its first anti-apartheid effort. And he’s been a big part of the Irish consciousness even longer than that.