Africa Is a Country

Desmond Tutu embarks on a life of well-earned dotage

Desmond Tutu embarks on a life of well-earned dotage

By
Jonathan Faull

The 1984 Nobel Peace Prize laureate and former Anglican Archbishop of Cape Town is one of South Africa's great moral leaders.

Desmond Tutu with his granddaughters Nyaniso Burris, 13, and Onalenna Burris, 3. Image: The Elders via Flickr CC.

Desmond Tutu, public intellectual, cleric, all round enemy-of-injustice, and professional granddad, departs the public stage – on his 79th birthday – (he says he is retiring) for a life of well-earned dotage.

The Bishop has proven to be an astute observer and commentator of the post-apartheid period, repeatedly criticizing elites for failing to deliver social and economic returns to the poor.  When others were too afraid, or too proud, to speak openly, our man openly, and often, berated Thabo Mbeki’s hair brained HIV/AIDS positions, earning stinging, and often extremely personal rebukes.

Image: Cape Town Sojourners, via Flickr CC.

Not content to fiddle exclusively at home, the good Arch raised the ire of racists, bigots and homophobes everywhere.

We’ll miss the laugh, the spontaneous, often inopportune dance moves, and altogether doubt that this man will go quietly. Go well tata.

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