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Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Mpilo Tutu was born in Matlosana (Klerksdorp) on 7 October 1931, to Zacheriah Zililo Tutu and his wife, Aletta and at age 12, Tutu and his family moved to Johannesburg.
In the 1980s, he rose to worldwide fame as an opponent of apartheid and on 16 October 1984, Tutu received the Nobel Peace Prize for “his role as a unifying leader figure in the campaign to resolve the problem of apartheid in South Africa”, as cited by the Nobel Committee. This is just one of the many awards Tutu has received. |
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In 1996, Tutu was diagnosed with Prostate Cancer. He underwent treatment in Cape Town, and then later in New York, USA. The treatment was successful. He is a patron of the South African Prostate Cancer Foundation.
Tutu has obtained various degrees and diploma’s, including his Masters Degree in Theology after which he was ordained as a priest into the Anglican Church in 1960. He has held many positions, both in and outside the church, including Chairman for the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. In 1985, Tutu was appointed as Bishop of Johannesburg, and in 1986, Archbishop of Cape Town. In 1996 he retired and was named Archbishop Emeritus, but still continues to work in the fight against HIV/AIDS, poverty and global oppression.
He is a remarkable man and an international icon of peace and justice. |
