La SAPE
After World War 2 the Congolese soldiers returned back to Africa from France— bringing back the latest Parisian fashions, clothing, and accessories. These men were called dandies.
Image Credit: Wolfeyebrows
Still today in parts of Africa, there are men who dress like the dandies—dressing with class, elegance and big price tags. These men are part of The Society of Ambianceurs and Elegant People or better known as La Sape.
Image Credit: Wolfeyebrows Image Credit: Wolfeyebrows
La Sape or Sapeurs, “comes from the French slang se saper, meaning to dress with class, but also from the acronym of their social group”. “Violence and fighting are characteristics that simply do not correspond with the moral conduct of the Sapeurs. Their exuberant flamboyance serves as a lighting rod for the Congolese disenfranchised youth, guiding it away from Third World Status to a modern cosmopolitanism.” - Le Journal International
Image Credit: Wolfeyebrows
This calm and stable, respected group of gentlemen spend thousands on their style from brands like Versace, Armani, Prada, and Gucci— but they are not rich men.
Image Credit: RT Documentary
Their average daily income is 18 pence. Yet they are still wearing designer suits and alligator boots.
Image Credit: Daniele Tamagni Image Credit: Daniele Tamagni
“I go to the bank, get credit, and I buy, buy, buy,” (Muengo, a member of La Sape, RT)
These man “are the ordinary, democratic, working men […]; taxi-drivers, farmers, carpenters, cultivating the idea of beauty in their own persons, through their conspicuous dress, as part of a complex political and cultural manoeuvre.” - Le Journal International
Image Credit: Getty
These men live in poverty and find buying expensive high fashion brands a priority over buying a better home to live. This creates complications when the Sapeurs have families. Priorities of La Sape seem ridiculous from the outside looking in, especially because these men go to extreme lengths to buy what they want. Some even putting their lives and others at ricks. Yet, this isn't so different than the western society which also drown themselves in debt for fashion.
Image Credit: Per-Anders Pettersson Image Credit: PHOTO: RT Documentary Image Credit: Per-Anders
“To stand out, you must have lots of clothes and shoes – that makes a dandy” (Member of La Sape, RT)
Besides the obvious cons, La Sape is a revolutionary movement. Their detail towards fashion and their dedication to their society is used as an escape from their surrounding world of poverty.
The example they bring to their community is seen as an inspiration. They are leading their community to find interest in something beyond what they normally see or want.
Image Credit: Maxime Pivot In The Congo Dandies by RT
“When you dress up you really are the best”
“The king of color”
“The god of clothes!” (Maxime Pivot, a member of La Sape, RT)
The Sapeurs created a boom in the world of media and fashion. They have been featured in films, music videos and documentaries.
Image Credit: Guinness
Guinness released a short documentary on the Sapeurs. Using this group of men to show acknowledgement and support to “ordinary people who are actually extraordinary people".
This documentary was part of the “Made of More” campaign.
WATCH THE OFFICIAL SHORT DOCUMENTARY BY GUINNESS:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CScqFDtelrQ&feature=youtu.be
Image Credit: Losing You
In the video "Losing You" by Solange Knowles, the Sapeurs and their concept appear time and again in there elegant and colorful suits.
The Sapeurs are also shown in the film 35 Cows and a Kalashnikov by Oswald von Richthofen and can be found in dozens of other films and advertisements.
Image Credit: 35 Cows and a Kalashnikov
Watch the official documentary of La Sape by rt documentary called The Congo Dandies: Living in poverty and spending a fortune to look like a million dollars for more about the Sapeurs .
