These Congolese men take the «image is everything» very seriously. They are sapeurs, members of the movement called ‘La SAPE’ – French for ‘The Society of Ambiance-Makers and Elegant People.’ These men (and women) spend fortunes on designer clothes. Initially, they adopted the flair for sartorial excellence and love of style from French colonisers. Eventually, the movement evolved into a separate subculture. What is life like for a person who wears shoes worth a year’s salary?
The Congo Dandies