Desmond Mpilo Tutu

Reverend Desmond Mpilo Tutu was born in Klerksdorp, Transvaal (South Africa) in 1931 and lived in Johannesburg from the age of twelve. He studied at the Bantu Normal College in Pretoria between 1951-1953 and taught at the Bantu High School in Johannesburg until 1957. In 1957, he resigned from teaching in protest against the implementation of the "Bantu Education Act" and the minimal educational opportunities for native Africans in his country. He continued his studies, this time in theology, and in 1960, he joined the Anglican Church. Between 1962-1966, he pursued theological studies at King's College London, where he graduated with an MA. Upon returning to South Africa, he was ordained as an archbishop and used his lectures and other initiatives from 1967 to 1972 to highlight the plight of the black population in South Africa. In 1984, he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize and in 1987, the Pacem in Terris Award ("Peace on Earth") by the Catholic Church for his contribution to the abolition of apartheid. Today, he is retired and lives in Cape Town. The South African government frequently appoints him to represent the country's interests on an international level.