Desmond Mpilo Tutu is famously known as a Cleric, theologian, an anti-apartheid and human rights activist. He was born on 7 October 1931 in Klerksdorp, Union of South Africa to a poor family. The 88 years old cleric identifies as a Socialist.
Tutu attended King’s College London, his Alma mater. Young Tutu had a passion to become a Medical Doctor, he got admission to study Medicine at the University of the Witwatersrand but his dreams came crashing has his parents couldn’t afford to send him to the school.
Tutu then chased being a teacher, he then gained a government scholarship where he studied at a teacher training institution Pretoria Bantu Normal College in 1951. Tutu taught English at Madibane High School in 1954.
The Anglican Cleric got married to Nomalizo Leah Shenxane in a Roman Catholic Church and this was because of his wife’s Roman Catholic Faith. They have several children together. While the couple was newly married, Tutu showed a keen interest in working for God.
At the St Paul Church were Tutu and his wife worshipped, Tutu devoted his time to serving the Lord and he joined several units in Church. He was the assistant Choirmaster, a Sunday school teacher who devotedly taught brethren the words of God, he was a sub-deacon, lay preacher and a Church Councillor.
Tutu, however, decided to give up the teaching profession after the white-minority National Party government introduced the Bantu Education Act that he and his wife frown at. This Bantu Education Act was encouraging white domination and the apartheid system. This incident led to the time Tutu became an Anglican Priest.
Desmond Mpilo Tutu was the first Black African to become the Bishop of Johannesburg (1985-1986) and also the first Black African to become the Arch Bishop of Cape Town (1986-1966).
Tutu earned a College degree in Licentiate of Theology. He studied Anglican doctrine, Christian Ethics and Church history. Tutu retired as an archbishop in 1996.
He worked alongside others to dismantle apartheid. He gave his support to the movement in several ways, he allowed Mandela and his wife Winnie to stay at the Bishop Court after they were released on the first night of his freedom.
