âcaricature of an African dictatorâ. Desmond Mpilo Tutu was born in Klerksdorp, Transvaal 7 October 1931 in South Africa. As a vocal and committed opponent of apartheid in South Africa he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1984. After graduating from school he studied at the University of South Africa. With a degree he became a high school teacher. Desmond Tutu then took up the study of theology and spent several years in England to further his theological study. In 1975 he was appointed Dean of St. Maryâs Cathedral in Johannesburg, the first black to hold that position.