Bryan Turner
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mouse and keyboard enjoyer | 31 | 🐘 @bigfoot@divas.joburg
Articles by Bryan Turner
Post‐War Sociology of Religion 1945-2024 in Britain and America
Introduction: The Rise of the Secularization Thesis After the great heyday of the early sociology of religion—Weber, Durkheim, Simmel, and Troeltsch—the sociological study of religion went into decline. One might argue that it was revived in the 1960s, but ironically, it had a second life to study secularization.
$40m loan by UK and Dutch DFIs is a first for Ethiopia’s financial sector
British International Investment (BII), the UK’s development finance institution (DFI) and impact investor, and FMO, the Dutch entrepreneurial development bank, today announced their joint commitments of up to $20m each to Dashen Bank – one of Ethiopia’s largest private sector banks. The loan will help to drive agricultural exports and provide access to much-needed foreign exchange within Ethiopia.
UK Private Equity Firms Spooked By Rising Interest Rates Could Take Lessons From Southern Africa
By Bryan Turner, Partner, Spear Capital In late June, the Bank of England announced a surprise 50 basis point increase in interest rates. It was the 13th consecutive such rise and forms part of an ongoing effort by central banks across the globe to rein in rampant inflation. It brings the bank’s base lending rate up to five percent, the highest it’s been since April 2008 and the early parts of the Global Financial Crisis.
Turnaround time: Private equity could be crucial to sub-Saharan Africa’s economic resurgence
Let’s not attempt and gloss over reality. The global economy has actually had a hard couple of years. A global pandemic was followed by supply chain interruptions (worsened by Russia’s war in Ukraine), which was then followed by widespread inflation, increases in energy expenses, and significantly high-interest rates that have actually unexpectedly made everybody’s financial obligation a lot more costly.
Turnaround time: Private equity could be crucial to sub-Saharan Africa’s economic resurgence
Let’s not try and gloss over reality. The global economy has had a tough few years. A global pandemic was followed by supply chain disruptions (exacerbated by Russia’s war in Ukraine), which was then followed by rampant inflation, rises in energy costs, and increasingly high-interest rates that have suddenly made everyone’s debt a lot more expensive. Few regions, however, have felt the impact of those economic ructions to the degree of countries in sub-Saharan Africa.
Private Equity Could Be Crucial To Sub-Saharan Africa’s Economic Resurgence
By Bryan Turner, Partner, Spear Capital Let’s not try and gloss over reality. The global economy has had a tough few years. A global pandemic was followed by supply chain disruptions (exacerbated by Russia’s war in Ukraine), which was then followed by rampant inflation, rises in energy costs, and increasingly high-interest rates that have suddenly made everyone’s debt a lot more expensive.
Does African private equity need to more fully embrace debt financing? Original
By Bryan Turner In some respects, there’s never been a better time to be an African business looking for investment than in the last couple of years. In the high-growth technology sector, for example, start-ups raised a record $5.4 billion (R101.2bn) in venture capital funding. The continent’s broader business sector also saw record levels of investment in 2022.
Does African private equity need more debt financing?
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Does African private equity need to more debt financing?
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InnerSelf Magazine: April 24, 2023
Image by chiplanay and border by Gordon Johnson Our InnerSelf welcomes your inner self. The only constant is change. And that is wonderful news as it gives us the opportunity, constantly, to reinvent ourselves and our world. No matter the mess we have gotten ourselves into, whether personally or globally, because change is always happening, there is hope. As long as we don't give up. As long as we don't think it can't be done.
InnerSelf Magazine: April 24, 2023
Image by chiplanay and border by Gordon Johnson Our InnerSelf welcomes your inner self. The only constant is change. And that is wonderful news as it gives us the opportunity, constantly, to reinvent ourselves and our world. No matter the mess we have gotten ourselves into, whether personally or globally, because change is always happening, there is hope. As long as we don't give up. As long as we don't think it can't be done.
In Our Problematic World, Is There Still a Place for Utopian Dreams?
A stuffed toy at the site of collapsed buildings after the earthquake in Hatay, Turkey, 17 February 2023. Martin Divisek/EPA The last few years have been truly catastrophic. One might easily argue that, during “The COVID Years”, we have witnessed more dramatic social and political change than at any time since 1939-1945.
In Our Problematic World, Is There Still a Place for Utopian Dreams?
A stuffed toy at the site of collapsed buildings after the earthquake in Hatay, Turkey, 17 February 2023. Martin Divisek/EPA The last few years have been truly catastrophic. One might easily argue that, during “The COVID Years”, we have witnessed more dramatic social and political change than at any time since 1939-1945.
Friday essay: in an age of catastrophe is there still a place for utopian dreams? Or might our shared vulnerability be the key?
Wed Apr 19 Written by Bryan Stanley Turner, Professor of Sociology, Australian Catholic University – Jürgen Habermas (1986) The last few years have been truly catastrophic. One might easily argue that, during “The COVID Years”, we have witnessed more dramatic social and political change than at any time since 1939-1945.
In an age of catastrophe is there still a place for utopian dreams? Or might our shared vulnerability be the key?
As utopian oases dry up, a desert of banality, and bewilderment spreads … — Jürgen Habermas (1986) THE LAST FEW YEARS have been truly catastrophic. One might easily argue that, during “The COVID Years,” we have witnessed more dramatic social and political change than at any time since 1939-1945.
Friday essay: in an age of catastrophe is there still a place for utopian dreams? Or might our shared vulnerability be the key?
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Friday essay: in an age of catastrophe is there still a place for utopian dreams? Or might our shared vulnerability be the key?
– Jürgen Habermas (1986) The last few years have been truly catastrophic. One might easily argue that, during “The COVID Years”, we have witnessed more dramatic social and political change than at any time since 1939-1945. In terms of its scale and duration, we should call this pandemic a catastrophe rather than merely a disaster in terms of the loss of life and more mundane issues such as the reorganisation of work and city life.
Looking beyond ChatGPT: The introduction of artificial resources
At Clockwork, we work with various requests that are time-sensitive and, more importantly, privacy-focused. One of our recent tasks was to transcribe a batch of nearly 23 hours of market research focus group recordings. It arrived on a Tuesday, and it needed to be completed by the end of that week. Anyone who’s transcribed recordings to text before knows it’s a game of play/pause, write, ‘what did they say?’, rewind, and repeat.
BRYAN TURNER: Private equity can be a powerful force for Africa’s industry
A few years ago, if you’d asked the average rugby or Formula One fan whether they thought private equity investment would be good for their sports, you’d probably have received a vociferous “No!” in response. Those with knowledge of the wider world of sports would’ve pointed to deals like the Glazer family’s 2005 leveraged buyout of Manchester United as an example of how private money could alienate fans and directly contribute to a sporting entity’s slump.
Can private equity do for Africa’s manufacturers what it’s done for F1 and rugby?
By Bryan Turner, Partner, Spear Capital A few years ago, if you’d asked the average rugby or Formula One (F1) fan whether they thought private equity investment would be good for their sports, you’d probably have gotten a vociferous “No!” in response.
With the end of ‘easy money' there are still serious opportunities in Africa
Ever since the 2008 financial crisis, investors in developed markets particularly have had to make decisions against the backdrop of incredibly low interest rates. In the US, for example, interest rates fell to almost zero percent in the immediate wake of the crisis and only hit one percent again in mid-2017. In 2019, they rose to just over 2.4% before falling to almost zero again in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
BRYAN TURNER: Home bias bars investors from tapping into Africa’s rise
The unexpected big events of recent years — the pandemic and the war in Ukraine — have made the world a far less predictable place for investors looking for long-term growth opportunities. What may have been safe havens for investors in previous years look more shaky now.
#ESGAfricaConference: What should ESG reporting look like in Africa?
Mpho Mookapele, CEO of the Energy & Water Seta These challenges, she noted, include access to clean water and sanitation, energy security, unemployment, food insecurity, and weak economic growth. Mookapele said that while these may sound like issues for governments to address, it is the reality in which companies operate in Africa and so this needs to be considered when compiling their ESG reports.
With The End Of ‘easy Money' There Are Still Serious Opportunities In Africa
By Bryan Turner, Partner, Spear Capital Ever since the 2008 financial crisis, investors in developed markets particularly have had to make decisions against the backdrop of incredibly low interest rates. In the US, for example, interest rates fell to almost zero percent in the immediate wake of the crisis and only hit one percent again in mid-2017. In 2019, they rose to just over 2.4% before falling to almost zero again in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
With the end of ‘easy money' there are still serious opportunities in Africa
With the end of ‘easy money’ there are still serious opportunities in Africa Even though the post-2008 period of ‘easy money’ may have come to an end (at least for now), it should be clear that there are still significant opportunities in Africa By Bryan Turner, Partner, Spear Capital Ever since the 2008 financial crisis, investors in developed markets particularly have had to make decisions against the backdrop of incredibly low interest rates.
Home bias prevents African investments
Home bias prevents African investments Whether investors display home bias consciously or unconsciously, the truth is that it’s causing them to miss out on significant opportunities – especially in emerging markets. By Bryan Turner, Partner, Spear Capital The world is beset by extreme inequality. In fact, a study released in December 2021 found that global inequality is at levels not seen since the peak of Western imperialism.
Western investors need to remove the bias they didn’t know they had
By Bryan Turner, Partner, Spear Capital The world is beset by extreme inequality. In fact, a study released in December 2021 found that global inequality is at levels not seen since the peak of Western imperialism. And, while we tend to focus on things like income inequality and unequal access to resources, there are also serious levels of inequality in the investment space.
Ditching ESG doesn’t make sense
Ditching ESG doesn’t make sense Over the past few months, there has been growing discontent with environmental, social, and governance (ESG) based investing. The criticism comes from multiple quarters too. By Bryan Turner Right-wing tech billionaire and investor Peter Thiel has called it a “hate factory” and compared it to the Chinese Communist Party, claiming that it is more about “naming enemies” than fostering actual change.
Should investors be looking to Africa during turbulent economic times?
South Africa’s inflation has hit a 13-year high of 7.8%, electricity tariffs have again increased and the soaring fuel price is making transport a luxury for many. Understandably, companies on the lookout for capital are moving away from relying on stock market investors and favouring private investment – as is clear from the number of delistings from the JSE in recent months, a number which now outweighs the listings.
Rise – Showing soon across Africa - Gadget
Movie of the Week Available now on Disney+ and on ESPN channel from 1 August, audiences will get a glimpse into the lives of Charles and Vera Antetokounmpo. ESPN Africa have announced thatthe Disney+ original filmRise, will have its linear premiere across the continent on ESPN (DStv218, Starsat 248) on Monday 1 August at 20:00.
Generation Africa shows at Durban International Film Festival
Stream of the Day The latest films from the Generation Africa collection of movies is being showcased at the Durban International Film Festival this month. The pan-African documentary project Generation Africa, will feature four films at the Durban International Film Festival – a hybrid event this year – with both cinema and virtual screenings from 21 to 31 July.
AppDate: ‘Super-secure’ messaging with TokLok
TokLok TokLok is claimed to be one of the most secure instant messenger platforms, because it does not not collect any data about its users. It does not collect statistics, does not provide geolocations, and does not assist in commercial profiling. The app stores all the information necessary for operating via encryption on the user’s device. For this reason, it is not possible to sell or provide user data for free to state institutions.
Arc redefines web browsing
Product Reviews A new browser aims to change up how we experience the web and what a browser can do. BRYAN TURNER tried out Arc Browser. You know what a web browser looks like: tabs at the top, address bar and buttons below it, and the webpage itself. This layout has been tried and trusted in the web space, and all major browsers follow the formula. This format, however, becomes cumbersome as more apps move toward the web and the number of tabs increases.
A Quiet Place Part II – Coming soon to Showmax - Gadget
Stream of the Day The sequel to the 2018’s Oscar-nominated post-apocalyptic horror, A Quiet Place Part II, will become available to stream on Showmax from 14 July. Shhh… A Quiet Place Part II, the sequel to 2018’s Oscar-nominated post-apocalyptic horror, pits the Abbott family against the terrors of the outside world as they’re forced to venture into the unknown, where the creatures that hunt by sound are not the only threats lurking beyond the sand path.
South Pole telescope looks far back in time
Space Tech Designed to detect the oldest light, the South Pole Telescope is helping researchers learn about the beginnings of the universe. Surveying the cosmos from its isolated position in Antarctica, a collaborative project aims to reveal insights about the universe’s beginnings. In summer at the South Pole, which lasts from November through February, the average temperature is a biting minus 18 degrees F. The sun does not set during this time, making sleep a challenge.
LG reimagines the TV
Product Reviews All the complexities of TVs have been removed in the 2022 lineup of LG’s QNED range. BRYAN TURNER reviewed the 65” model. It’s seldom that a smart TV is smart beyond its apps, but LG’s latest QNED range changes this. We were extremely impressed with the overhaul of the many webOS features, that have become far easier to use and make the TV experience more natural. Out of the box, it’s a stunning low-bezel screen that outputs vibrant colours.
Asus puts Antibacterial Guard in laptops
Product of the Day Asus’s Antibacterial Guard coating on its latest laptops safeguards users from sickness-causing pathogens. Being isolated during lockdowns has made all of us more sensitive to sickness-causing pathogens. While we may have moved on from wiping down our groceries with soap water, we’re washing our hands more frequently. Many of us still habitually grab a mask on our way out the door.
Ask Bryan: Do mexapixels still matter?
Ask Bryan The number of megapixels in a smartphone camera has become less important, as users seek better camera quality in mobile photography, writes BRYAN TURNER. Megapixels have become increasingly unimportant in smartphone cameras, but many brands are still hanging on to pushing megapixels, as they win bragging rights, for example by passing the 100MP mark. A megapixel (MP) is a measure of pixels in an image, and 1MP equals one million pixels.
Vodacom gets 700 girls coding
EdTech 700 high school girls will receive coding training this month during Vodacom’s #CodeLikeAGirl programme. Vodacom has launched a follow-up to its stimulating #CodeLikeAGirl programme that will see 700 girls between the ages of 14 and 18 receive coding training from 27 June – 15 July 2022.
Ditching ESG doesn't make sense, especially in Africa
Source: Vitaliy Vodolazskyy © 123RF.com Still others have argued that there are too many ESG standards and that ESG compliance is overly complex. Indeed, The Economist has gone so far as to argue that ESG should be abandoned and replaced with one simple measure: emissions. It’s an understandable line of thinking too. The climate crisis is an existential threat in the most literal sense and everything possible should be done to address it.
Honor releases latest flagship in SA
At Mobile World Congress in February, Honor debuted the Magic4 flagship series of smartphones. Most South African looked at this as aspirational, because the Magic3 services devices didn’t arrive in our market. Instead, Honor has taken a bottom-up approach with launching devices in the country, starting with mid-range and working its way up to flagships. Enter the Magic4 Pro and Magic Lite: Honor’s first flagships to enter South Africa.
Ask Bryan: Ecosystem gaps are closing
Q: I have a Samsung phone and a Mac computer. I’m happy with the way my Samsung works, but some people say I should upgrade to an iPhone. What do you think? A: Apple’s ecosystem of devices has some benefits, but over the years, the gap has become smaller. We’ll take a look at a few solutions that make using an Android device just as easy to use with a Mac as it would be with an iPhone. For emails, one probably already uses a webmail provider like Gmail or Outlook.com.
What SA can learn from connecting Venice
Connectivity Cisco and Venywhere have teamed up to make Venice the ultimate hybrid working city of the world. Given Venice’s complex geography, BRYAN TURNER asked how South Africa can follow in its wake. Cisco has sent 16 of its early-in-career employees to live and work remotely in Venice for three months, as part of a pilot program that’s shaping the future of work.
New Asus laptop means serious business
Product Reviews The latest professional notebook from Asus, the Expertbook B7 Flip, houses a massive 64GB of memory, in a small form factor. BRYAN TURNER tried it out. Enter the powerful laptop that’s always connected. The latest Asus Expertbook B7 Flip is the top of its class with a powerful internals, and built-in Wi-Fi 6 and 5G options to remain constantly connected. Any professional who needs strong computing power in a laptop form factor needs to look at the B7 Flip.
Moving from analogue to smartwatch
Ask Bryan Making the move from analogue to smartwatch can be daunting. BRYAN TURNER unpacks the pros and cons of making the switch. Q: My analogue watch has stopped working after many years. Should I get a ‘smart’ watch? A: Sorry to hear your analogue watch has stopped working. I found myself in the same position a few years back and considered a smartwatch as a replacement. From my experience, there are pros and cons to making the switch. The biggest positive is insight.
Samsung’s next high-spec A-series device
Product Reviews The Samsung Galaxy A53 5G offers minor improvements over the A52s 5G, but will it be enough to upgrade? BRYAN TURNER tries it out 5G has gone mainstream in Samsung’s Galaxy A-series line-up, which solidifies the proliferation of the latest high-speed connectivity technology in the mid-range. The Galaxy A53 5G offers exactly what one needs to get a 5G connection, at under R10,000.
These are the best internet on the go options
Several mobile networks offer a range of plans, but navigating these plans can be tricky with all the Ts and Cs, as well as technical limitations. The most appropriate hardware solution is a Mi-Fi (mobile Wi-Fi) hotspot device. This creates an immediate Wi-Fi network from a SIM card that’s inside it. These are often available alongside data contracts for a nominal price.
SMEs can go beyond backup
Business Tech After SMEs back up their systems, where do they go next? Veeam’s Rick Vanover spoke to BRYAN TURNER about the next steps to stay ahead of disaster. Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) that are ready to protect their data have an increasing range of options. And now one of the leaders in enterprise data back-up is coming to their party.
Tech tips to stay fit from home
Ask Bryan Staying active from home becomes far easier with the right set of gadgets and apps, writes BRYAN TURNER The at-home fitness market is massive, and there are some tried and tested players in the market to facilitate working out for different routines. One of the vital tools to improve a fitness routine is a fitness tracker. This could be an activity tracker (like the Fitbit Charge) or a smartwatch (like the Apple Watch). Which is the best one? It depends what one wants to do with it.
How can I create a smart home?
Smart homes are a great way to add a “cool” tech aspect to one’s life, and can also be a great way to save electricity. Most people get started with lights because they tend to be straightforward to set up and provide a lot of benefits. There are two types of smart lights: switching lights and colour changing lights. Switching lights are ideal for those who don’t want to change their existing lights and only want on and off functionality.
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