PERSONAL LIFE
When and where were you born?
On October 7, 1931 in Maltose, South Africa
What was your greatest achievement or contribution to humanity?
What virtues stand out most in your life?
Las virtudes que más lo definieron fueron el coraje, la compasión, la alegría, la justicia, la fe y la integridad.
Did you have any unusual hobbies or pastimes?
In addition to his serious work, Desmond Tutu had very joyful and close hobbies: dancing, singing, laughing, reading and sharing friendship.
What was happening in the world during your lifetime?
What was your family like?
Son of a domestic worker, Aletta Tutu and a teacher, Zachariah Tutu
What was your biggest professional obstacle?
Desmond Tutu began to gain international recognition in his 40s.
Was he a controversial or respected person?
Desmond Tutu was a highly respected person, although he also had moments of controversy for always speaking his mind.
Did you like any sports or physical activities?
He wasn't a great athlete, but he did enjoy football, rugby, dancing and walking, activities that kept him active and connected with people.
What other important figures did you live with.
Nelson Mandela – He was his great friend and comrade in the fight against apartheid in South Africa.
The Dalai Lama – He shared a deep friendship with him; together they wrote The Book of Joy and promoted peace and spirituality.
Frederik de Klerk – The last apartheid president; they worked together in the process of national reconciliation.
Martin Luther King Jr. (although they never met in person, Tutu was greatly inspired by his fight for civil rights).
Barack Obama – Publicly admired his work and called him the “moral conscience of the world.”
What was your childhood like?
His childhood was marked by poor health, which required him to be given the name "Mpilo" (life), a humble family where his father was a school principal and his mother a domestic worker, and an early influence from the priest Trevor Huddleston.
How did you start your career or main job?
Desmond Tutu began his career working as a teacher after graduating from Pretoria Bantu Normal College.
Did you win any awards, medals or recognition?
Nobel Peace Prize (1984) – for his work against apartheid
Were you a good cook, musician or amateur artist?
He was not a great cook or visual artist, but he was an amateur musician and dancer, and above all, someone who turned joy and humor into his most authentic art form.
What was happening in your country during your lifetime?
In South Africa
He lived under apartheid (1948–1994), a system of racist laws that separated people based on their skin color.
He peacefully fought against that system alongside figures like Nelson Mandela.
After the end of apartheid, he helped lead the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, which sought to heal the country.
Was there any important event in your childhood that left a mark on you?
What did he invent, discover or create?
Are there any movies, songs or books about him?
Yes, there are movies, songs and books about Desmond Tutu, because his life inspired many people around the world.
Did you have any strange superstitions or customs?
He had no strange superstitions, but he did have very marked customs of joy, prayer and shared humanity that made him unique.
What social problems did you face during your life?
Apartheid in South Africa: a racist system that separated people based on their skin color and denied rights to the Black population.
Injustice and poverty: he fought for everyone to have access to education, housing, and decent work.
Violence and repression: he denounced government abuses and always called for peaceful solutions.
Inequality in the world: he also spoke out against wars, racism, and discrimination in other countries.
HIV/AIDS: he helped eliminate prejudices toward people suffering from it and called for more medical and human support
What was the place like where you grew up?
Desmond Tutu grew up in a South Africa marked by poverty and racial segregation known as apartheid.
How did your discipline change thanks to him/her?
Desmond Tutu's discipline (religion and social activism) changed a lot thanks to him.
At what age did you start to be recognized?
Desmond Tutu began to gain international recognition in his 40s.
Did you eat anything unusual or have a favorite dish?
More than a specific “favorite dish,” he was characterized by his love for simple, shared food, because for him the table was a place of unity.
What was happening in Mexico during your lifetime?
PRI governments: For much of the 20th century, Mexico was governed by the same party (the PRI), which led to stability, but also inequality and corruption.
Urban growth: Many people moved from the countryside to the cities in search of work and better opportunities.
1968 student movement: Young people demanded freedom and justice; the government responded with violence in Tlatelolco.
1985 earthquake: People came together to help, showing solidarity and social organization.
Political changes: In 2000, the first president from another party (Vicente Fox) came to power, marking the end of 71 years of PRI rule.
Current issues: Mexico faced poverty, inequality, drug trafficking, and human rights struggles, issues that also concerned Tutu.