Comments on: africa.fashion::the congolese sape

By: Some Thoughts on The Importance of Being Elegant

Some Thoughts on The Importance of Being Elegant — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 20:00:21 +0000

[...] La Sape has always been about escape even for the now old gentlemen in Congo Brazzaville where this all started in the 1940s. The young men in the film have bought into that escape fantasy to propel themselves from the poverty and war of Kinshasa to a life of luxury and elegance in Paris. In the final scenes when the filmmakers follow a sapeur nicknamed “the Archbishop” as he attempts to establish himself in Paris and in the SAPE scene there, we get a peek into the harsh realities awaiting these young men when they arrive, including a realization that it is all just a mirage. [...]

By: kamau

kamau — Sat, 05 Apr 2008 02:50:47 +0000

the way of life aspect of it was new to me too, and makes the whole subculture even more fascinating. it still amazes me how joyous, exuberant congolese music and the congolese are even with the wars and the madness of mobutu. maybe it is a response to all the suffering they have experienced.

By: sci-culturist

sci-culturist — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 14:19:56 +0000

v.interesting and informative piece especially as fashion reporting tends to be dominated by women’s wear. it’s refreshing and inspiring to note that their dress sense is not purely focused on aesthetics but goes deeper – it’s a way of life…i’m left wondering about the impact of the relentless civil war…