Nobel Peace Prize laureate, anti-apartheid activist and Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu turns 88 today.
Tutu, who was born in Klerksdorp, held the position of Archbishop of Cape Town from 1986-1996. Prior to this he was the Archbishop of Johannesburg, from 1985 for one year. These positions are the most senior in southern Africa’s Anglican hierarchy and Tutu is the first black African to hold these titles.
Upon release from prison in 1990, Nelson Mandela and Desmond Tutu spearheaded negotiations to end the apartheid regime and to make South Africa a multi-racial democracy. His work as a human rights activist is recognised and celebrated all over the world.
People have taken to social media to wish “The Arch” a very happy birthday:
I love this man so much! Happy 88th Birthday to “The Arch,” Archbishop Emeritus of Cape Town, Nobel Peace Prize winner, and Warrior of Light, my personal hero Desmond Tutu! Shine on!? https://t.co/urOQqwS9cT
— livalohagirl (@Livalohagirl) October 7, 2019
Armed with intelligence from that dashing poet, freedom fighter and priest, Michael Weeder, I want to wish one of the greatest heroes of our time, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, a cleric who showed that the pen and word are mightier than apartheid, Happy Birthday!!!
— Dennis Cruywagen (@DennisCruywagen) October 7, 2019
Happy 88th Birthday to Archbishop Desmond Tutu. May God bless you with all that is good in this world and in the hereafter. I have learnt so much from your kindness and spirit of Ubuntu and value the friendship and… https://t.co/S3b09FrnOk
— Faisal Petersen (FP Productions) (@faizelpet1) October 7, 2019
Happiest birthday to freedom fighter and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu as he celebrates his 88 birthday. #DesmondTutu
— Ayakhanya (@Ayakhanya_d) October 7, 2019
And to celebrate his birthday, we’ve made a list of some of his inspiring quotes:
“Your ordinary acts of love and hope point to the extraordinary promise that every human life is of inestimable value.”
“Do your little bit of good where you are; it’s those little bits of good put together that overwhelm the world.”
“Forgiveness says you are given another chance to make a new beginning.”
“We are each made for goodness, love and compassion. Our lives are transformed as much as the world is when we live with these truths.”
“God’s love is too great to be confined to any one side of a conflict or to any one religion.”
“My humanity is bound up in yours, for we can only be human together.”
Image: Facebook