SAPE (Société des Ambianceurs et des Personnes Élégantes)

A portrait story of the members of the SAPE from Pointe-Noire, Republic of the Congo

by Francesco Giusti



In Congo-Brazzaville, SAPE is an old passion that has never stopped, not even during the years of war. When the French arrived in Congo at the beginning of 1900, the myth of elegance was born among young people working for the settlers. In 1922, Andrè Grenard Matsoua, well known for his resistance to the colonisers, was the first Congolese to come back from Paris dressed like a true French monsieur and greatly admired by all his fellow citizens. Today's members of the SAPE consider themselves to be artists and are respected and admired by the whole community.



Sape is an art that does not refer to the means people have at their disposal. Rather, it's a matter of harmony and matching colours. Assembling one’s own outfits and choosing the right accessories surely speaks to a clothing code as well as the pleasure of being unique and original. With their refined style and faultless dress sense, the members of the SAPE bring a touch of glamour to their humble surroundings. Each individual has his own repertoire of gestures, setting him apart from all the others. Elegance is not the only important characteristic, however. A true member of the SAPE is first and foremost a gentleman and a pacifist. Every weekend, the members of the SAPE with their eccentric and amusing nicknames, gather in bars and fashionable dance halls or parade in the streets to the amusement of the children and the applause of passers-by. These extemporised and spontaneous parades are the expression of an urban culture looking for new parameters and codes such as non-violence and elegance. They reflect the wish, particularly of young people, not to be left apart by society.





1st Jury Prize Documentary - Viewbook PhotoStory 2009

www.viewbookphotostory.com