Mural of South Africa's Desmond Tutu is fixed for his 90th
ABC News
South African anti-apartheid icon Archbishop Desmond Tutu is marking his 90th birthday
CAPE TOWN, South Africa -- As South Africa’s anti-apartheid icon Archbishop Desmond Tutu marks his 90th birthday Thursday, a portrait of him recently defaced by racist graffiti has been restored by the artist, who added a celebratory message.
“Happy Birthday Tata Desmond Tutu! Father of the Rainbow Nation,” using the Xhosa word for father — which was added to the large mural of Tutu by artist Brian Rolfe.
“At first I was so angry when the racist slur was painted on the mural,” Rolfe told The Associated Press.
“But then I thought the only way to respond is with a positive message. So I used the same space where the graffiti was to add the birthday message,” said Rolfe who originally painted the landmark mural in downtown Cape Town in 2017.
