Desmond Tutu

Desmond Mpilo Tutu is a South African Anglican cleric and theologian, known for his anti-apartheid and human rights activities. He was the Bishop of Johannesburg (1985-69 and then Archbishop of Cape Town (1986-96). In both cases he was the first black African to hold the position. Theologically he sought to fuse ideas from black theology with African theology. In 1986 he became the president of the All Africa Conference of Churches. In 1994 Nelson Mandela selected Desmond to chair the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.

1994 awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.

Desmond’s father, Zachariah Zelilo Tutu trained as a primary school teacher. His parents both spoke the Xhosa language. Desmond described his family *although we weren’t affluent, we were not destitute either .

He was sickly from birth. He had polio which resulted in atrophy (lack of growth) of his right hand. On one occasion he was hospitalized with serious burns.

The family was initially Methodist and he was baptized in June 1932. They then changed denominations, first to African Episcopal Church then to the Anglican church.

He trained as a teacher and married Nomalizo Leah Shenxane in 1955. They had 4 children.

In 1960 he was ordained as an Anglican priest. In 1962 he moved to the U.K. to study Theology at King’s College, London. He is now a fellow of the college.

In 1966 he returned to southern Africa. He taught at the Federal Theological Seminary and then the University of Botswana, Lesotho and Swaziland.

In 1972 he became the Theological Education director; based in London but requiring regular visits to to the African continent.

In 1975, back on southern Africa he became dean of st. Mary’s Cathedral in Johannesburg, then bishop of Lesotho.

1978-85 became general secretary of South African Council of Churches. He emerged as one of South Africa’s most prominent anti=apartheid activists
Also In 1985 he became Bishop of Johannesburg. He over saw the introduction of women priests.

1986 became bishop of Cape Town and president of the All Africa Conference of Churches )AACC) which require more tours of Africa… ( See AACC for more information).

In 1990 F.W. de Kerk released Nelson Mandela. Desmond and Nelson together negotiations to end Apartheid and introduce multi-racial democracy

1994 Mandela elected as first black president of South Africa. Desmond was asked to chair the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (T&RC) - it was a court like restorative body. It is generally thought to be successful . The Institute for Justice and Reconciliation in 2000 replaced T&RC. ( See T&RC for more information).

Desmond was awarded the* Noble Peace Prize* award in 1984 in recognition of his efforts to resolving and ending apartheid.

Since apartheid’s fall he has campaigned on gay rights and spoken out on a wide range of subjects.

2010 he retired from public life but continues to travel widely.

Sources used
Britannica
King’s People
Wikipedia
Youth for Human Rights