Tutu’s birthday celebrations begin

Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu celebrates his 80th birthday on Friday. Photo: Cindy Waxa

Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu celebrates his 80th birthday on Friday. Photo: Cindy Waxa

Published Oct 7, 2011

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Johannesburg - Archbishop Desmond Tutu is turning 80 on Friday, with festivities scheduled to take place at St George's Cathedral in Cape Town.

Celebration for the Nobel Peace Prize winner already started on Thursday afternoon, where Irish musician Bono performed with the Soweto Gospel Choir.

His book Tutu: The Authorised Portrait was launched at the event.

The anti-apartheid hero expressed disappointment and sadness this week when his close friend the Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama, who was due to give an inaugural lecture at his peace centre, cancelled his visit after Pretoria failed to grant him a visa in time.

Tutu harshly criticised the government for the way in which the visa application, made in August, had been handled by the Department of International Relations.

The Desmond Tutu Peace Centre said the Dalai Lama would proceed with his inaugural Desmond Tutu International Peace Lecture via video link on Saturday, at the University of the Western Cape. - Sapa

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