Published Archives - George Philipas

The enigmatic world of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church

A deep-dive into the mysteries of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church. Looking at its origins – shrouded by the mists of forgotten history. And trying to understand what makes it so idiosyncratic from other better-known branches of orthodox christianity.

ByGeorge PhilipasJuly 16, 20230Comments

Africa Journalism Published South Africa Tourism

The Cape 1000 is Africa’s answer to the Mille Miglia

A 4-day 1000-mile trek through Cape Town’s hinterland for the Cape 1000 vintage car rally in early March 2022. A journey that took its participants through old, Dutch, colonial towns that time forgot through to epic mountain passes.

ByGeorge PhilipasApril 1, 20220Comments

Africa Democracy Journalism Published Russia Russia in Africa South Africa

For its own good, SA must take the regional lead against Russia

A focus on Russian interference in the southern African region reveals it is deeper and more ingrained than many might realise. And how the underhanded tactics of disinformation and the targeting of weak undemocratic leaders might pose a problem for South Africa itself – exacerbating an already, increasingly unstable region.

ByGeorge PhilipasMarch 3, 20220Comments

Africa Economy Journalism Published Russia Russia in Africa South Africa

Russian-Ukrainian war may be the boon SA has been waiting for

A deep-dive into how the Russian-Ukrainian war will affect South Africa’s economy and how it might act as a boon giving the already-battered country sustained tailwinds

ByGeorge PhilipasMarch 3, 20220Comments

Africa Economy Energy Journalism Published Trade

Infrastructure spending in Africa is at a crossroads

An edited version of this article appeared in the Opinions and Analysis section of Business Day (South Africa) on 23/12/2021: https://www.businesslive.co.za/bd/opinion/2021-12-23-george-philipas-infrastructure-spending-in-africa-is-at-a-crossroads/

The pandemic has certainly not been kind to investment prospects in Africa. Lead by a slowdown in infrastructure investment from China, foreign direct investment (FDI), already heading south before the onset of the pandemic, fell by 18% in 2020. More ominously, greenfield investment, investment in new projects, fell precipitously by 63% according to the Global Investment Trends Monitor released by UNCTAD in Jan 2021, the largest regional fall on the globe last year. The proverbial onslaught culminated with the announcement earlier this month at the recent Forum of China-Africa Cooperation conference (FOCAC) in Dakar, Senegal that plots Sino-African relations for the next three years, of a vertical drop in investment from China from US$ 60 billion to US$40 billion.

ByGeorge PhilipasDecember 24, 20210Comments

Africa Economy Published South Africa

Failure shows SA Companies should reconsider African strategy

A look at South African companies’ prospects on the continent, their past successes and failures and how this bodes in the immediate future in light of the recently-implemented AfCFTA. The Business Day (South Africa) article includes insightful comment from Ken Gichinga, chief economist at Mentoria Economics based in Nairobi and Simon Newton Smith, Commercial Executive…

ByGeorge PhilipasOctober 19, 20210Comments

Africa Manufacturing Published South Africa Trade

SA must clean up its act in Africa – Its future depends on it

The African Continental Free Trade Area Agreement (AfCFTA) should be the catalyst for a much-needed overhaul of South Africa’s foreign policy on the continent. Underfunded for too long, overstretched and ideologically shackled to the guilt of its apartheid past, it is time for a more pragmatic approach. The country’s future depends on it.

ByGeorge PhilipasSeptember 2, 20210Comments

Africa Ethiopia Greece Greeks Published South Africa

A New Chapter in Greek-African relations or just a flash in the pan?

Following a recent flurry of diplomatic activity by Greece on the African Continent, the article inquires why the sudden interest and examines whether Greece can follow through with action to fulfill its stated goal of becoming a “bridge between Africa and Europe” as Greek Minister of Foreign Affairs, Nikos Dendias, recently said. The piece includes…

ByGeorge PhilipasAugust 5, 20210Comments

Cyprus Cyprus Mail Greek-Cypriot Greeks Published South Africa

A sense of continuity for the South African Cypriot diaspora

A look at the Cyprus Brotherhood of South Africa and how they have survived and thrived since 1934.

ByGeorge PhilipasJune 21, 20210Comments

Cyprus Cyprus Mail Greeks Published South Africa Sudan

Where have all the Greeks gone? The story of Greeks in Africa

A look at the rise and fall in numbers of the Greek diaspora in the African continent, from late 19th century and colonial times right through to present day.

ByGeorge PhilipasApril 5, 20210Comments