Personality of the monthLeader

Desmond Tutu

My humanity is bound up in yours, for we can only be human together.

Edition · July 2026South Africa

Their story

Archbishop Desmond Mpilo Tutu was the moral conscience of South Africa during and after apartheid. The first Black Archbishop of Cape Town, he coined the term "Rainbow Nation" to describe post-apartheid South Africa's multicultural vision. He chaired the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (1995-1998), offering a model of restorative justice the world has since tried to emulate. He received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1984. His theology of ubuntu — "I am because we are" — continues to inspire peacebuilders worldwide.

Highlights

  • Nobel Peace Prize (1984)
  • First Black Archbishop of Cape Town
  • Chaired the Truth and Reconciliation Commission
  • Coined the phrase "Rainbow Nation"
  • Templeton Prize (2013)
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