What is a Sapeur Africa?
Often referred to as “dandies” of the Congo, “sapeurs” and “sapeuses” are men, women and children whose sharp and stylish way of dressing has caught the world’s attention.
Why do Sapeurs dress up?
The acronym SAPE roughly translates from French as “The Society for the Advancement of Elegant People.” Sapeurs often dress up and meet in streets or bars for an informal contest. It’s an occasion to show off the designer labels and unique combination of styles. In the 1970s, Western suits were prohibited.
What is the Sapeur culture?
They are called sapeurs or members of the Societe des Ambianceurs et des Personnes Elegantes (the Society of Tastemakers and Elegant People). And when they go out, they turn the streets of Brazzaville, the capital of the Republic of the Congo, into a fashion runway. The sapeur style began as one of emulation.
Where are the Sapeurs?
The Sapeur culture is firmly rooted in both Brazzaville and Kinshasa. These capital cities are separated only by the Congo River, but the differences between each city’s Sapeur community make them feel worlds apart.
What does sapeur stand for?
Noun. sapeur (plural sapeurs) (Africa) A member of the social movement known as La Sape, who dress as dandies and put great emphasis on style and physical appearance.
What is Sapeurs?
Les sapeurs are followers of La Sape, a unique Congolese subculture that emerged during the early colonial era in Brazzaville, the Republic of the Congo. It is an abbreviation of the phrase “Société des Ambianceurs et des Personnes Élégantes” (French for “Society of Ambiance-Makers and Elegant People”.)
What are African men suits called?
Men sometimes wear a white robe called a kanzu. A kanzu has a tassel and a small round cap (kofia) and others wear dashiki shirts and a cap for informal events.
How many sapeurs are there?
There are currently at least 6000 Sapeurs across the Democratic of Congo but most reside in the country’s capital, Kinshasa, where they act as ambassadors not just for the country but the continent. When they walk down the streets, the city comes to a stand still. They are the nation’s celebrities.
Where are the Sapeurs from?
Some residents of the twin Congolese capitals of Brazzaville and Kinshasa have long been known for their love of stylish dressing – in particular members of the Society of Ambience-Makers and Elegant People (Sape).
How many Sapeurs are there?
What does SAPE stand for?
SAPE
| Acronym | Definition |
|---|---|
| SAPE | Substance Abuse Prevention Education |
| SAPE | Survivable Adaptive Planning Experiment |
| SAPE | Student Assessment, Program Evaluation |
| SAPE | Sexual Assault Prevention and Education |
What does SAPE mean in Congo?
Society of Ambiance-Makers and Elegant People
La Sape, an abbreviation based on the phrase Société des Ambianceurs et des Personnes Élégantes (French; literally “Society of Ambiance-Makers and Elegant People”) and hinting to the French slang word sape which means “clothes” or sapé, which means “dressed up”, is a subculture centered on the cities of Kinshasa and …