RELIGIOUS FIGURE

Desmond Tutu

1931 - 2021

Photo of Desmond Tutu

Icon of person Desmond Tutu

Desmond Mpilo Tutu (7 October 1931 – 26 December 2021) was a South African Anglican bishop and theologian, known for his work as an anti-apartheid and human rights activist. He was Bishop of Johannesburg from 1985 to 1986 and then Archbishop of Cape Town from 1986 to 1996, in both cases being the first Black African to hold the position. Theologically, he sought to fuse ideas from Black theology with African theology. Tutu was born of mixed Xhosa and Motswana heritage to a poor family in Klerksdorp, South Africa. Read more on Wikipedia

His biography is available in different languages on Wikipedia. Desmond Tutu is the 532nd most popular religious figure (down from 520th in 2019), the 9th most popular biography from South Africa (up from 10th in 2019) and the 2nd most popular South African Religious Figure.

Desmond Tutu is most famous for his work as a human rights activist. He was the first black Archbishop of Cape Town and he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1984.

Memorability Metrics

Loading...

Page views of Desmond Tutu by language

Loading...

Among RELIGIOUS FIGURES

Among religious figures, Desmond Tutu ranks 532 out of 3,187. Before him are Rabbi Akiva, Adalbert of Prague, Pope John VI, Talhah, Suger, and Anastasia of Sirmium. After him are Jean-Louis Tauran, Athenagoras I of Constantinople, Dorothea of Caesarea, Pope Caius, Dominic Savio, and Saint Titus.

Most Popular Religious Figures in Wikipedia

Go to all Rankings
Load previousLoad previous

Contemporaries

Among people born in 1931, Desmond Tutu ranks 20. Before him are Raymond Kopa, Riccardo Giacconi, Philip Kotler, Leslie Caron, Roger Penrose, and Anita Ekberg. After him are Thomas Bernhard, Monica Vitti, Vishwanath Pratap Singh, Martinus J. G. Veltman, Josef Masopust, and Don King. Among people deceased in 2021, Desmond Tutu ranks 18. Before him are Roh Tae-woo, Mikis Theodorakis, Frank Williams, Aaron T. Beck, F. W. de Klerk, and Paul J. Crutzen. After him are Raffaella Carrà, Martinus J. G. Veltman, Carlos Menem, Isamu Akasaki, Captain Tom, and Richard R. Ernst.

Others Born in 1931

Go to all Rankings
Load previousLoad previous

Others Deceased in 2021

Go to all Rankings
Load previousLoad previous

In South Africa

Among people born in South Africa, Desmond Tutu ranks 9 out of 454. Before him are Elon Musk (1971), Allan MacLeod Cormack (1924), J. M. Coetzee (1940), Nadine Gordimer (1923), Sarah Baartman (1788), and F. W. de Klerk (1936). After him are Miriam Makeba (1932), Shaka (1787), Christiaan Barnard (1922), Michael Levitt (1947), John Vorster (1915), and D. F. Malan (1874).

Others born in South Africa

Go to all Rankings
Load previousLoad previous

Among RELIGIOUS FIGURES In South Africa

Among religious figures born in South Africa, Desmond Tutu ranks 2. Before him are Sarah Baartman (1788). After him are Wilfrid Napier (1941).

South African born Religious Figures

Go to all Rankings
Load previousLoad previous