On Tuesday 17 September, The Revd Nontombi Tutu, Episcopal priest and human rights activist and daughter of Archbishop Desmond Tutu led the inaugural Desmond Tutu Annual Memorial Lecture at York Minster.
The lecture was entitled ‘Truth, The Path to Reconciliation’ and The Revd Nontombi drew upon scholarly perspectives, particularly from Africa and the global majority world, to deepen comprehension and inspire those present to take action toward dismantling oppressive structures and nurturing just communities.
In tribute to Desmond Tutu's legacy of scholarly reflection and contemplation, the Desmond Tutu Centre for Religion and Social Justice at the University of Western Cape and United Society Partners in the Gospel (USPG) have established this annual memorial lecture on religion and social justice. In future years, distinguished speakers and thought leaders will be invited to examine contemporary issues through the lens of Archbishop Tutu's enduring legacy.
The Revd Canon Dr Peniel Rajkumar at USPG said: “We were delighted that our inaugural lecture had a speaker of The Revd Nontombi’s high calibre, and it was an honour to hear her wisdom. We hope that by annually convening scholars, theologians, activists, and practitioners from diverse backgrounds, in the UK and South Africa, this lecture series will cultivate critical inquiry, collaboration, and collective action toward a more just and compassionate world”.
In this interview, The Revd Nontombi shares insights into her lecture: