
Desmond Tutu
Born 1931 · Age 94
South African Anglican bishop, theologian and anti-apartheid and human-rights activist; first Black Bishop of Johannesburg and first Black Archbishop of Cape Town; Nobel Peace Prize laureate and chair of South Africa's Truth and Reconciliation Commission.
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Life & Career Timeline
Born in Klerksdorp, Transvaal
Desmond Mpilo Tutu born to Allen Dorothea Mavoertsek Mathlare and Zachariah Zelilo Tutu in Klerksdorp, Transvaal, Union of South Africa.
Baptised into Methodist Church
Tutu was baptised into the Methodist Church (family later changed denominations twice to Anglican).
Family moved to Tshing; started primary education
Family moved to Tshing where his father became a school principal; Tutu began primary schooling and served as a server at St Francis Anglican Church.
Contracted tuberculosis; mentored by Trevor Huddleston
Tutu spent about 18 months hospitalised with tuberculosis; visited regularly by priest Trevor Huddleston, a formative influence.
Completed national exams
Returned to school in 1949 and took national exams late 1950, receiving a second-class pass.
Entered Pretoria Bantu Normal College (teacher training)
Won a government scholarship to train as a teacher; served in student leadership roles and met Nelson Mandela at a debating event.
Graduated from University of South Africa (UNISA)
Completed five correspondence courses at UNISA and graduated with a BA (UNISA) while training as a teacher.
Married Nomalizo Leah Shenxane
Legally married and later had a Roman Catholic wedding ceremony to Leah; the couple went on to have four children.
Left teaching to train for Anglican priesthood
Resigned from teaching in protest at the Bantu Education Act and enrolled at St Peter's Theological College to train as an Anglican priest.
Daughter Naomi born
Daughter Naomi was born in August 1960 while Tutu was at theological college / early ministry.
Ordained as Anglican deacon
Ordained (deacon) at St Mary's Cathedral (December 1960); shortly after appointed assistant curate at St Alban's Parish, Benoni.
Ordained as Anglican priest
Ordained as an Anglican priest (1961) after theological studies at St Peter's Theological College; served as assistant curate and in parish ministry.
Moved to the UK to study at King's College London
Secured TEF funding and permission to move; studied theology at King's College London from 1962, served as assistant curate in Surrey.
Daughter Mpho Andrea born in UK
Tutu and Leah had daughter Mpho while they were living in the curate's flat in Golders Green, London.
Returned to southern Africa to teach at the Federal Theological Seminary
Returned from the UK and joined Fedsem in Alice teaching doctrine, Old Testament and Greek; Leah worked as library assistant.
Completed MA at King's College London
Completed postgraduate theological studies (MA/ThM) at King's College London in 1966; dissertation on Islam in West Africa.
Joined University of Botswana, Lesotho and Swaziland (UBLS)
Accepted a higher-paying teaching post at UBLS in Roma, Lesotho (January 1970), became chaplain and warden of student residences.
Appointed Theological Education Fund (TEF) director for Africa
Accepted TEF post based in England (March 1972) assessing grants and touring theological institutions across Africa.
Presented paper on Black theology in New York
Attended Union Theological Seminary conference (1973) and presented a seminal paper on Black theology, shaping his theological stance.
Elected Dean of St Mary's Cathedral, Johannesburg (first Black dean)
Elected (March 1975) and installed August 1975 as the first Black dean of St Mary's Cathedral, a high-profile appointment.
Elected Bishop of Lesotho
Elected Bishop of Lesotho (March 1976) and consecrated in July 1976; enthroned in Maseru in August 1976; learned Sesotho and visited rural diocese.
Wrote letter warning PM about tensions before Soweto uprising
Wrote to Prime Minister B.J. Vorster warning about youth tensions linked to Bantu education; Soweto uprising followed in June 1976.
Appointed General-Secretary, South African Council of Churches
Became general-secretary of the SACC (1978–1985), elevating his platform to become a leading opponent of apartheid and advocate of sanctions.
South African government revoked his passport (temporarily)
Government revoked or confiscated Tutu's passport to curtail his international campaigning; public outcry led to restoration.
Published 'The Divine Intention' / 'Crying in the Wilderness'
Published collections of lectures and sermons (Crying in the Wilderness / The Divine Intention) collecting his anti-apartheid addresses.
Published 'Hope and Suffering'
Published 'Hope and Suffering' (1983), a collection of sermons and speeches during a critical period of struggle.
Awarded the Nobel Peace Prize
Received the Nobel Peace Prize (1984) for his work against apartheid; international recognition greatly increased his profile.
Became Bishop of Johannesburg (first Black)
Installed as the first Black Anglican Bishop of Johannesburg (1985), at the height of township uprisings and anti-apartheid struggle.
Became President of the All Africa Conference of Churches
Elected president of the All Africa Conference of Churches (1986), increasing continental travel and influence.
Installed Archbishop of Cape Town (first Black)
Elected and installed 7 September 1986 as the first Black Archbishop of Cape Town and primate of the Anglican Church of Southern Africa.
Delivered commencement at Oberlin College
Delivered a commencement address at Oberlin College (25 May 1987) — an example of his frequent international speaking engagements.
Became Chancellor, University of the Western Cape
Took the chancellorship of the University of the Western Cape (Bellville), a symbolic role in higher education (circa 1988).
Led anti-apartheid march in Cape Town
Led a major anti-apartheid march of roughly 30,000 people through Cape Town, demonstrating mass mobilisation against apartheid.
Hosted Nelson Mandela's first night of freedom
On 11 February 1990, Mandela spent his first night as a free man at the official residence of the Archbishop of Cape Town.
Coined 'Rainbow Nation'
After the 1994 election and Mandela's victory, Tutu popularised the term 'Rainbow Nation' to describe post-apartheid South Africa's diversity.
Appointed Chair of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC)
Mandela selected Tutu to chair the TRC in 1995 to investigate human rights abuses under apartheid and facilitate national healing.
Retired as Archbishop of Cape Town; became Archbishop Emeritus
Retired from the primacy in 1996 after a decade as Archbishop; continued public work and took visiting academic posts.
Visiting Professor at Emory University
Served as Visiting Professor of Theology at Emory University in Atlanta for approximately two years following retirement.
TRC held first hearings
Truth and Reconciliation Commission began public hearings (April 1996) under Tutu's chairmanship to investigate abuses of the apartheid era.
Diagnosed with prostate cancer
Publicly disclosed a diagnosis of prostate cancer in 1997 to raise awareness of the disease.
TRC controversy: ANC legal action to block report release
After the TRC report (1998) the ANC sought to block some aspects of its release; Tutu publicly rebuked attempts to obstruct publication.
Truth and Reconciliation Commission report published
TRC issued its final report in 1998, attributing most blame to apartheid state forces while also criticising ANC abuses; ANC attempted legal action to block release.
Published 'No Future Without Forgiveness'
Released a memoir and reflection on his TRC experience, 'No Future Without Forgiveness' (1999), widely read internationally.
Received Academy of Achievement Golden Plate Award
Awarded the Golden Plate Award by the American Academy of Achievement (2003), recognising lifetime accomplishments.
Published 'God Has a Dream'
Published 'God Has a Dream: A Vision of Hope for Our Time' (2004), a collection of personal reflections.
Co-founded The Elders; named chair
Joined Nelson Mandela, Jimmy Carter, Kofi Annan and others to form The Elders, a group of global statesmen and moral leaders; Tutu named to chair.
Awarded U.S. Presidential Medal of Freedom
Received the U.S. Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Barack Obama (12 August 2009) for his lifelong contributions to human rights.
Published 'Made for Goodness'
Published 'Made for Goodness: And Why This Makes All the Difference' (2010), exploring human nature and morality.
Announced effective retirement from public life
Announced on 22 July 2010 that he would effectively withdraw from public life in October 2010; stated 'Don't call me, I'll call you.'
Began retirement (turned 79)
On 7 October 2010 (his 79th birthday), he began his retirement from active public life though he continued some advocacy and writing.
Received Mo Ibrahim Foundation award
Awarded an honour by the Mo Ibrahim Foundation recognising his lifelong commitment to 'speaking truth to power' (2012).
Awarded the Templeton Prize
Received the Templeton Prize (2013) recognising spiritual insights and contributions to humanity.
Publicly campaigned for LGBTQ rights
Launched an international campaign for LGBTQ rights in Cape Town and famously said, 'I would not worship a God who is homophobic.'
Urged British Parliament to allow assisted dying
Spoke publicly in July 2014 urging the British parliament to allow assisted dying, citing concerns about prolonged suffering.
Co-authored 'The Book of Joy' with the Dalai Lama
Published The Book of Joy (2016) with the Dalai Lama, reflecting on lasting happiness; part of his late-career publications.
90th birthday thanksgiving service at St George's Cathedral
Appeared frail in a wheelchair but attended a special thanksgiving service at St George's Cathedral in Cape Town marking his 90th birthday.
Died in Cape Town
Desmond Tutu died on 26 December 2021 in Cape Town at the age of 90.
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