Dandies From Congo

Congolese capital Brazzaville has a subculture known as Sapeurs. This is a society of elegant people. Men of all ages dress up in designer clothes to look like French colonialists from the 50’s and 60’s even if they really can’t afford stylish outfit. A lot of people in Congo are starving and even get into debt in order to create their wardrobe. The fashion of Congolese dandies hasn’t changed in the last 50 years. Andre Grenard Matsoua is still the “God” of the SAPE movement. He became the first Congolese who returned from Paris in 1922 dressed like a French "Monsieur". His portraits can be found in many apartments throughout the cities of the Congo.