South Africa's Archbishop Tutu dies at 90

The people’s archbishop remembered - 17th January 2022

Archbishop Desmond Tutu, who helped to end South Africa's racist apartheid system, died on 26th December 2021. News of the 90 year old Christian leader's death was met with sadness around the world.

Many people paid their respects to the lifelong campaigner. The Nelson Mandela Foundation described Archbishop Tutu as an extraordinary human being, thinker and leader.

Tutu was born into a Christian family in 1931 in a small gold-mining town. He followed his father's example and began a teaching career. However, South Africa's 1953 Bantu Education Act stopped Black and white students attending the same schools. Tutu left teaching and instead became a priest in the Anglican church.

As a Christian leader, Tutu spoke out against racism and 'apartheid'. South Africa's white government introduced this racist system after World War Two. It divided people by the colour of their skin, and made Black people and white people live separate lives. Apartheid means 'separateness'.

Tutu's peaceful opposition earned him the Nobel Peace Prize in 1984. Two years later, he took the role of Archbishop of Cape Town. As the leader of South Africa's Anglican church, his campaign against apartheid continued.

Archbishop Tutu risked jail through these efforts. He was in a church which police attacked with tear gas. He was also arrested for attending a political protest.

Even after the election of President Nelson Mandela, Archbishop Tutu carried on his work building a peaceful South Africa for everyone, where all could come together peacefully.

The people's archbishop planned his own funeral and chose the cheapest coffin. For two days, people queued to see his body. He will be remembered for building his positive vision of a "rainbow nation".