In her first trip to South Africa, the US first lady met with one of President Jacob Zuma's three wives, as well as apartheid-era civil rights hero Nelson Mandela.

Seeking to export child mentoring and wellness programs she has pushed in the United States, Obama also met with elementary schoolers at the Emthonjeni Community Center.

Many young, black South Africans look up to Obama and her family - America's first black "First Family".

Al Jazeera's Gladys Njoroge reports from Johannesburg.