The first black Archbishop of Cape Town, Tutu won the Nobel Peace Prize for his leadership of the South African Truth and Reconciliation Commission and was Chair of a group of former world leaders, The Elders, which aims to tackle some of the world's most intractable problems. He helped calm the political crisis in Kenya and regularly spoke out against Mugabe, Israel, the Iraq War and the Burmese junta, but is also noted for his irrepressible sense of humour and deep spirituality. He lived in South Africa and travelled widely. Tutu died on the 26th December 2021, at the age of 90.

Working first as a journalist in South Africa, and then as Tutu's Press Secretary, John Allen was invited to join the Truth and Reconciliation Commission as Director of Communications in 1995. Next he was aide to Tutu when the Archbishop taught in Atlanta for two years. He lives in South Africa.