DESMOND MPILO TUTU: AN AFRICAN LEADERSHIP ROLE MODEL (PART V)

Conclusion of the series

By Mathieu Ndomba Ngoma

This series has shown that the character of Tutu is a synthesis of his experiences as an African man born in a Bantu ubuntu culture, as an oppressed man living in an apartheid country, and as a Christian, and religious man. All these aspects have led Tutu to become a reconciler in many ways. In fact, he does not only reconcile oppressors and the oppressed, but also his life is a reconciliation of a life of virtue, religion, and politics. While people wonder whether politics has any morality, the life of Tutu shows that it is possible to combine politics with a life of virtue. In the same way, his life shows that one can combine religion and politics with a lot of wisdom. While people in the government and in the Church slammed him for doing politics, he felt that his commitment to politics came as a necessity of his faith. His many experiences shaped his character in such a way that it was like something natural for him to bring together a life of virtue, religion and politics.

However, the question arising from the life of Tutu is whether his experience can be generalized. This question suggests another question about whether there can be a systematic way of shaping virtues in a political community. These questions are complex. Yet again the life of Tutu suggests a very important element to be considered when one attempts to reflect on these questions: the impact of the family life on Tutu’s process of acquisition of virtues. Tutu was deeply rooted in the ways and culture of his family. The acquisition of other virtues later on was possible because of solid foundations acquired at the family level. His anthropological convictions acquired at the family level were a tremendously important element in his whole process of acquisition of virtues. In general terms, it may be said that the situation of the family somehow determines how virtuous a child may be. In most cases for instance, a dysfunctional family will more likely produce children less inclined to a life of virtue. Therefore the way a society deals with family values may constitute an important hermeneutical tool to understand the process of acquisition of virtues in that society.