In support of Africa Day on 25 May, the illuminated map of Africa on the front façade of RMB’s headquarters in Sandton, reminds us that we’re made of Africa, and that Africa is made of us.
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“RMB is a leading corporate and investment bank with our roots firmly planted in African soil,” says Ebrahim Motala, head of RMB Africa. “Africans are remarkably resilient, accustomed to overcoming difficult situations and navigating landscapes such as devaluations, crashes in commodity prices, downgrades and now COVID-19. We need to continue to come up with African solutions to African problems, leveraging off our unlimited potential as a continent.
“As an African bank we continue to partner with stakeholders from Lagos to Cape Town and are deeply invested across sectors to navigate the complexities of the present-day world economy.”
In early May, Rand Merchant Bank temporarily transformed the front of its HQ in Sandton into an illuminated billboard that celebrates the universal language of light and carrying the message: ‘Solutions needs us all’. Two of the four buildings that make up what is known as Merchant Place, on the corner of Rivonia Road and Fredman Drive, are alight with the colours of the national flag in a gesture of unity and solutionist thinking.
The original rallying call of “solutions need us all” remains. Says RMB’s head of marketing for Africa, Linda Kachingwe-Sisya: “As we celebrate #AfricaDay and the continent's unlimited potential, RMB stands in optimistic solidarity with the entire continent to help find creative solutions for our path to recovery from the ravages of COVID-19. The illumination on our buildings reminds us that we can only find innovative ways to overcome challenges if we work together.”
The theme song that was chosen to accompany the “Made of Africa” lighting display is Say Africa, performed by the Mzansi Youth Choir. “The song talks about Africa as home, regardless of where in the world we might find ourselves,” says Kachingwe-Sisya. “And although we are unable to travel under the conditions of the COVID-19 lockdown, music and light unite and transcend us all keeping us optimistic and connected.”
The low-voltage LED projection and lighting, put together by Gearhouse (a leading technical supplier to the event industry), cost-effectively demonstrates the power of creativity to shine a light on our collective potential and generate the energy required to unleash innovative solutions.
The lighting display at Merchant Place runs from 6 to 8pm on four nights a week until the end of May.
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