Archbishop’s 75^th birthday honoured by Desmond Tutu Diversity Trust 

On 7 October 2006, the Desmond Tutu Diversity Trust honoured its namesake and patron, Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu, with a glittering black-tie gala dinner to celebrate the achievement of his 75^th birthday.  

Political leaders, international figureheads, local businesspeople and celebrities converged on the Sandton Convention Centre, to pay tribute to the Archbishop’s commitment to linguistic, cultural and religious diversity and his personification of the positive appreciation of diversity within society. 

Among them were Nelson Mandela and Graca Machel, First Lady Zanele Mbeki, Samuel L. Jackson, Carlos Santana, Alfre Woodard, CCH Pounder, Tokyo Sexwale and Cheryl Carolus. 

The birthday party had two additional aims: to serve as the culmination of several events organised by The Trust, in collaboration with various sports bodies, throughout the year; and to commemorate the unveiling of an exhibition of the Archbishop’s life and works in the library of the University of South Africa. 

Guests from South Africa and across the globe enjoyed every moment of the innovatively themed event, hosted by the Desmond Tutu Diversity Trust and managed by Megapro. 

Click on each thumbnail for a larger image.

Diversity Centre on the cards for Joburg's youth / by Ndaba Dlamini
Credit: City of Johannesburg and Johannesburg News Agency