A portrait story of the members of the SAPE from Pointe-Noire, Republic of the Congo.
SAPE (Société des Ambianceurs et des Personnes Élégantes)
In Congo-Brazzaville SAPE dates back to the 1920s and 1930s, when privileged Congolese returned stylishly dressed from visits to Paris.
Today this subculture of high fashion takes place against a backdrop
of poverty.
Many save for years to afford outfits, but originality in matching clothes and choosing the right acceccories is respected more than the money spent.
” SAPE is an art that is not referred to the means people have at their disposal. It’s a matter of harmony and matching colours”.
Some members of the SAPE, known as Sapeurs, have celebrity status, and make appearances at weddings, funerals or other important events.
Each has a repertory of gestures, to distinguish him from the others, and many take on amusing nicknames.
Elegance is not the only important character.
First of all a true member of the SAPE is a gentleman and a pacifist.
Every week-end the Sapeurs gather in bars and fashionable dancing halls and parade in the streets among amused children and applauses of the passers-by.
These extemporized and spontaneous parades are the expression of a urban culture looking for new reference parameters and codes such as no-violence and elegance and they reflect the wish of young people in particular not to be left apart by society.
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www.francescogiusti.com
..................................................
SAPE (Société des Ambianceurs et des Personnes Élégantes)
In Congo-Brazzaville SAPE dates back to the 1920s and 1930s, when privileged Congolese returned stylishly dressed from visits to Paris.
Today this subculture of high fashion takes place against a backdrop
of poverty.
Many save for years to afford outfits, but originality in matching clothes and choosing the right acceccories is respected more than the money spent.
” SAPE is an art that is not referred to the means people have at their disposal. It’s a matter of harmony and matching colours”.
Some members of the SAPE, known as Sapeurs, have celebrity status, and make appearances at weddings, funerals or other important events.
Each has a repertory of gestures, to distinguish him from the others, and many take on amusing nicknames.
Elegance is not the only important character.
First of all a true member of the SAPE is a gentleman and a pacifist.
Every week-end the Sapeurs gather in bars and fashionable dancing halls and parade in the streets among amused children and applauses of the passers-by.
These extemporized and spontaneous parades are the expression of a urban culture looking for new reference parameters and codes such as no-violence and elegance and they reflect the wish of young people in particular not to be left apart by society.
..................................................
www.francescogiusti.com
..................................................