Important people in South Africa

Answer 1

Desmond Tutu

The world famous religious leader Desmond Mpilo Tutu was born on 7th October 1931 in Klerksdorp, Transvaal South Africa. Bishop Desmond Tutu was honored with many different awards including the Nobel Peace Prize in 1984.

Desmond Tutu studied at the Johannesburg Bantu High School. Before graduating from the University of South Africa in 1954, he took up training for teaching from the Bantu Normal School in Pretoria. After teaching in high school for three years, Desmond Tutu went to England to pursue a Master's course in Theology. He served in many respectable posts and positions including the Dean of St. Mary's Cathedral located in Johannesburg, Bishop of the country called Lesotho and the General Secretary of the South African Council of Churches.

Kofi Annan

The former Secretary-General of the United Nations, Kofi Annan was born in Kumasi, Ghana on 8th April 1938. He was the seventh Secretary-General and served two terms starting from 1st January 1997 to 1st January 2007.

Mr. Annan is known for the reforms he brought about in the functioning of the United Nations. His priorities included:

• Strengthening the operations carried out in the areas of security and peace-keeping.
• Promoting the virtues of equality, human dignity and tolerance.
• To reinstate people's faith in the United Nations, by forging ties with new partners in economic and cultural areas.

Kofi Annan influenced world politics positively and tried to resolve the conflicts between different nations peacefully. During the invasion of Iraq in 2003, he did not permit the US and UK to go ahead without the consent of the United Nations. The transfer of power from African Union peacekeeping mission to United Nations took place peacefully in Sudan; Mr. Annan played a vital role in this process of peaceful transition.

Wangari Maathai

A famous environmentalist from Kenya, Wangari Maathai is the first woman to attain a doctorate degree from the under privileged region of East and Central Africa. Wangari Maathai led a life full of struggles and is still working hard for the sake of environmental conservation. Well known for the "Green Belt Movement", she has inspired people worldwide, to take up the cause of afforestation.

Nelson Mandela

Nelson Mandela's greatest pleasure, his most private moment, is watching the sun set with the music of Handel or Tchaikovsky playing.

Locked up in his cell during daylight hours, deprived of music, both these simple pleasures were denied him for decades. With his fellow prisoners, concerts were organised when possible, particularly at Christmas time, where they would sing. Nelson Mandela finds music very uplifting, and takes a keen interest not only in European Classical Music but also in African choral music and the many talents in South African music. But one voice stands out above all - that of Paul Robeson, whom he describes as our hero.

One of the greatest leaders of the 20th century, Nelson Mandela demonstrated immense courage, patience and determination to free his nation from the shackles of apartheid. Born on 18th July, 1918 in Transkei, South Africa, Mr. Mandela became the President of South Africa in 1993. Before that, he had to spend 27 years in prison. He is also known by an honorary title Madiba, in South Africa.

-by: baby_thugz017-

Answer 2

Nelson Mandela and Desmond Tutu, to name two of the most famous, currently. And of course Steve Biko, who died whilst fighting against social discrimination, due to an "accident" in jail.

Answer 3

Martin Luther King Nelson Mandela

Answer 4

nelson mandla