While we saw African writers and activists reach new heights in 2021, we also lost some of our most beloved public figures. On December 26th, Desmond Tutu, a South African bishop known for his anti-apartheid and human rights activism, passed away. The funeral was held on January 1st and a week- long remembrance began on January 3rd with events planned throughout the country for the community to grieve and celebrate all of Tutu’s contributions. Tutu was one of the primary voices that spoke out against apartheid and was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1984 for his anti-apartheid efforts. To celebrate his life and contributions to South Africa, the African continent, and the world, we created this list highlighting some of the books Archbishop Desmond Tutu shared with the world.

Note: Some of the titles are being republished, so we have included the publishing dates of the most recent editions if possible.