The 1984 Nobel Peace Prize awardee Desmond Tutu is a renowned South African Anglican cleric known for his staunch opposition to the policies of apartheid. Tutu was applauded by the Nobel Committee for his clear views and his fearless stance, characteristics which had made him a unifying symbol for all African freedom fighters.
Born in 1931 in South Africa, Desmond Tutu established a career in education before turning to theology. During the 1980s, he emerged as one of the most prominent anti-apartheid activists within South Africa. From 1976 to 1978, he served as the Bishop of Lesotho, and in 1978 became the first black General Secretary of the South African Council of Churches.
The Peace Prize award made a big difference to Tutu’s international standing, and was a helpful contribution to the struggle against apartheid. The broad media coverage made him a living symbol in the struggle for liberation, characterizing him as someone who articulated the sufferings of South Africa’s oppressed masses.
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