Desmond Tutu

Tutu {{circa|2004}} Desmond Tutu (7 October 193126 December 2021) was a South African Anglican bishop and theologian, known for his work as an anti-apartheid and human rights activist. He was Bishop of Johannesburg from 1985 to 1986 and then Archbishop of Cape Town from 1986 to 1996, in both cases being the first black African to hold the position. Theologically, he sought to fuse ideas from black theology with African theology.

Tutu was born of mixed Xhosa and Motswana heritage to a poor family in Klerksdorp, South Africa. Entering adulthood, he trained as a teacher and married Nomalizo Leah Tutu, with whom he had several children. In 1960, he was ordained as an Anglican priest and in 1962 moved to the United Kingdom to study theology at King's College London. In 1966 he returned to southern Africa, teaching at the Federal Theological Seminary and then the University of Botswana, Lesotho and Swaziland. In 1972, he became the Theological Education Fund's director for Africa, a position based in London but necessitating regular tours of the African continent. Back in southern Africa in 1975, he served first as dean of St Mary's Cathedral in Johannesburg and then as Bishop of Lesotho; from 1978 to 1985 he was general-secretary of the South African Council of Churches. He emerged as one of the most prominent opponents of South Africa's apartheid system of racial segregation and white minority rule. Although warning the National Party government that anger at apartheid would lead to racial violence, as an activist he stressed non-violent protest and foreign economic pressure to bring about universal suffrage.

In 1985, Tutu became Bishop of Johannesburg and in 1986 the Archbishop of Cape Town, the most senior position in southern Africa's Anglican hierarchy. In this position, he emphasised a consensus-building model of leadership and oversaw the introduction of female priests. Also in 1986, he became president of the All Africa Conference of Churches, resulting in further tours of the continent. After President F. W. de Klerk released the anti-apartheid activist Nelson Mandela from prison in 1990 and the pair led negotiations to end apartheid and introduce multi-racial democracy, Tutu assisted as a mediator between rival black factions. After the 1994 general election resulted in a coalition government headed by Mandela, the latter selected Tutu to chair the Truth and Reconciliation Commission to investigate past human rights abuses committed by both pro and anti-apartheid groups. Following apartheid's fall, Tutu campaigned for gay rights and spoke out on a wide range of subjects, among them his criticism of South African presidents Thabo Mbeki and Jacob Zuma, his opposition to the Iraq War, and describing Israel's treatment of Palestinians as apartheid. In 2010, he retired from public life, but continued to speak out on numerous topics and events.

As Tutu rose to prominence in the 1970s, different socio-economic groups and political classes held a wide range of views about him, from critical to admiring. He was popular among South Africa's black majority and was internationally praised for his work involving anti-apartheid activism, for which he won the Nobel Peace Prize and other international awards. He also compiled several books of his speeches and sermons. Provided by Wikipedia
Showing 1 - 18 results of 18 for search 'Tutu, Desmond', query time: 0.02s Refine Results
  1. 1

    Crying in the wilderness / by Tutu, Desmond

    Published 1982
    Book
  2. 2

    Hope and suffering / by Tutu,Desmond

    Published 1983
    Book
  3. 3

    The rainbow people of God / by Tutu,Desmond

    Published 1994
    Book
  4. 4

    No future without forgiveness / by Tutu, Desmond

    Published 1999
    Other Authors: “…Tutu, Desmond…”
    Book
  5. 5

    The words of Desmond Tutu / by Tutu, Desmond

    Published 1989
    Book
  6. 6

    Hope and suffering / by Tutu,Desmond

    Published 1983
    Book
  7. 7

    The rainbow people of God / by Tutu,Desmond

    Published 1994
    Book
  8. 8

    An African prayer book/ by Tutu, Desmond

    Published 1995
    Book
  9. 9

    The words of Desmond Tutu / by Tutu, Desmond

    Published 1989
    Book
  10. 10

    No future without forgiveness / by Tutu, Desmond

    Published 1999
    Other Authors: “…Tutu, Desmond…”
    Book
  11. 11

    An African prayer book. / by Tutu, Desmond

    Published 1995
    Book
  12. 12

    Crying in the wilderness / by Tutu, Desmond

    Published 1982
    Book
  13. 13

    Dignity the essential role it plays in resolving conflict / by Hicks, Donna

    Published 2011
    Other Authors: “…Tutu, Desmond…”
    An electronic book accessible through the World Wide Web; click to view
    Electronic eBook
  14. 14

    Where the river bends : considering forgiveness in the lives of prisoners / by McRay, Michael T.

    Published 2016
    Other Authors: “…Tutu, Desmond…”
    An electronic book accessible through the World Wide Web; click to view
    Electronic eBook
  15. 15

    Dignity the essential role it plays in resolving conflict / by Hicks, Donna

    Published 2011
    Other Authors: “…Tutu, Desmond…”
    An electronic book accessible through the World Wide Web; click to view
    Electronic eBook
  16. 16

    Where the river bends : considering forgiveness in the lives of prisoners / by McRay, Michael T.

    Published 2016
    Other Authors: “…Tutu, Desmond…”
    An electronic book accessible through the World Wide Web; click to view
    Electronic eBook
  17. 17

    The global guide to animal protection /

    Published 2013
    Other Authors:
    An electronic book accessible through the World Wide Web; click to view
    Electronic eBook
  18. 18

    The global guide to animal protection /

    Published 2013
    Other Authors:
    An electronic book accessible through the World Wide Web; click to view
    Electronic eBook