Desmond Tutu

Desmond Mpilo Tutu (born October 7, 1931) is a South African cleric and activist who rose to worldwide fame during the 1980s as an opponent of apartheid. Tutu was the first black South African Anglican Archbishop of Cape Town, South Africa, and primate of the Church of the Province of Southern Africa. He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1984.

Background

Born in Klerksdorp, Transvaal, Tutu moved with his family to Johannesburg at age 12. Although he wanted to become a physician, his family could not afford the training and he followed his father's footsteps into teaching. Tutu studied at the Pretoria Bantu Normal College from 1951 through 1953. Tutu went on to teach at Johannesburg Bantu High School where he remained until 1957; he resigned following the passage of the Bantu Education Act, protesting the poor educational prospects for black South Africans. He continued his studies, this time in theology, and in 1960 was ordained as an Anglican priest. He became chaplain at the University of Fort Hare, a hotbed of dissent and one of the few quality universities for black students in the southern part of Africa.

Related Topics:
Klerksdorp - Transvaal - Johannesburg - Physician - 1951 - 1953 - 1957 - Bantu Education Act - Theology - 1960 - Anglican - Priest - Chaplain - University of Fort Hare

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Tutu left his post as chaplain and travelled to King's College, London, (1962?1966), where he received his Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Theology. He returned to South Africa and from 1967 until 1972 used his lectures to highlight the circumstances of the black population. He wrote a letter to Prime Minister Vorster, in which he described the situation in South Africa as a "powder barrel that can explode at any time." The letter was never answered.

Related Topics:
King's College - London - 1962 - 1966 - Bachelor's - Master's degree - 1967 - 1972 - Prime Minister Vorster - Powder barrel

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In 1972 Tutu returned to the UK, where he was appointed vice-director of the Theological Education Fund of the World Council of Churches, at Bromley in Kent. He returned to South Africa in 1975 and was appointed Dean of St. Mary's Cathedral in Johannesburg?the first black person to hold that position.

Related Topics:
1972 - UK - World Council of Churches - Bromley - Kent - 1975 - Dean - Johannesburg

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He has been married to Leah Nomalizo Tutu since 1955. They have four children: Trevor Thamsanqa, Theresa Thandeka, Naomi Nontombi and Mpho Andrea.

Related Topics:
Leah Nomalizo Tutu - 1955

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