When Desmond Tutu married Leah Nomalizo Shenxane in 1955, he was a young schoolteacher in South Africa and she was training as a teacher too. Neither could have known that he would become an archbishop, a Nobel Peace Prize winner and one of the most recognisable faces in the world. Their marriage lasted 66 years, through apartheid, years abroad and global fame. It is one of the great African love stories of the twentieth century.
How they met and the wedding
Desmond and Leah met as students. Leah had been a pupil of Desmond’s father, Zachariah Tutu, who was a school headmaster. They married on 2 July 1955. At the time, Desmond was working as a teacher, a career he later left for the priesthood. The couple had four children: Trevor, Thandeka, Naomi and Mpho. Mpho later became a priest herself.
Years abroad and the struggle
Desmond studied theology in London in the 1960s, and the family lived in England for several years. The experience of life outside apartheid shaped them both. Leah trained as a teacher and later became an advocate for domestic workers’ rights, helping to found the South African Domestic Workers’ Association, which campaigned for better pay and conditions.
As Desmond became a leading voice against apartheid, the family faced threats and pressure. Leah stood beside him throughout.
The Nobel and later years
In 1984, Desmond Tutu was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his non-violent opposition to apartheid, bringing worldwide attention to the struggle and to the family. In 1986 he became Archbishop of Cape Town, the first Black person to hold the post. The couple renewed their vows in 2015 to mark 60 years of marriage. They remained together until Desmond’s death on 26 December 2021.
The Tutus spoke openly about the work marriage requires, including disagreements and forgiveness, and their honesty inspired many couples.
After Desmond's death
Leah was often seen beside her husband at public events, from church services to international gatherings. Friends described her as a steady presence who kept the family grounded while he travelled the world. When Desmond Tutu died in Cape Town in December 2021, Leah was at his funeral at St George’s Cathedral. Tributes from around the world praised both the archbishop and the woman who had shared his life for more than six decades.
Desmond Tutu spent decades preaching reconciliation to a divided country. At home, he and Leah practised it for 66 years.
