Tutu wins $1million in Dakar

The award was presented during the Mo Ibrahim Foundation’s annual conference at the weekend. With the award Tutu also received a grant of $1million.
Presenting the award to Tutu, Grammy Award-winning Beninoise singer-songwriter and activist, Angelique Kidjo, said: “With infectious humour but also steely resolve, Archbishop Tutu has worked tirelessly to promote peace, human rights and to champion the oppressed.
“He continues to show himself to be the scourge of injustice, ready to rock the boat if necessary and speak out against those political leaders who he believes have let down their citizens and wider world. For throughout his life, he has shown himself unafraid ‘to speak the truth to power’ which is why he was such a worthy recipient of this Special Award this evening.”
Tutu said the “real heroes”, who had inspired and supported him throughout his life, included the citizens of South Africa who did not repudiate him when he campaigned for sanctions against apartheid in South Africa.
He particularly mentioned Trevor Huddleston, the anti-apartheid activist, who visited him in hospital; the elders, who worked together with him for peace and human rights; his mother, who showed an incredible caring for other people; and his wife, whom he said: “I would not be where I am if it were not for Leah”.
To the young people around the world he said: “Young people really are dreamers. They dream of a better kind of world. They dream that we can make poverty history. And they were at the forefront of the Arab Spring. Don’t be affected by the cynicism of ‘oldies’ like us. Go ahead and dream of a different kind of world. You young people are our hope.”