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Gentlemen Of Bakongo: The African Dandies

By / 23 Nov 2009 @ 9:36 am
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gentlemen-of-bacongo-bookA new photo book by Daniele Tamagni explores the phenomenon of the African sapeurs, a clique of extraordinarily dressed dandies from the Congo. In the midst of war and abject poverty, these men dress in tailored suits, silk ties, and immaculate footwear.

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Sapeur comes from la SAPE, short for Société des Ambianceurs et des Personnes Élégantes, or the Society of Tastemakers and Elegant People. The SAPE, like any club, has rules of conduct and of dress; it’s centered around Brazzaville and Kinshasa, the adjacent capitals of the Republic of Congo and the Democratic Republic of Congo, respectively.

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This isn’t a new subculture: the style of dress which the sapeurs imitate is that of the French and Belgian colonists who seized control over the Congo during the 1880s.

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Interesting to see where Paul Smith took his inspiration for his Women Spring 2010 in London

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WHAT DO YOU GUYS THINK?

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  • Manuel Bonanno

    These guys are truly men of elegance. All that funkiness in the midst of sufferation….I doff my hat to them guys.
    Being a Royal Dandy is a state of mind …money cannot buy it.
    All I’ll say is that they, keep on doing what they know best.
    Feeling funky.

  • http://www.themobilediary.com Cyril Style

    I agreed with you Manuel ! There’s style are amazing and money cannot buy it !

  • http://www.colorbash.wordpress.com colorbash

    Not all of it is french/belgian inspired after all africans have flair and a sense of couleur all on their own – they are simply using it in interpretation. I love their style !!! and you don’t have to mention things like having style “in the midst of war and abject poverty”….having a sense of style is not related to either of the issues and in many cases they are probably putting together used clothes etc similar to a person that would shop from a thrift store. Carry on ‘Gentlemen’ !! enjoy life and stay stylish !!

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  • Micha Hannemann

    Fabulous, wish I could see an exhibition of these photographs. Congratulations to the gorgeous dressers as well as the photographer. Thank you I loved this article!!

  • GOS”

    STYLE has nothing to do with where you are from…

  • Blassia

    sometimes i wish i was born black so i could wear a pink suit with red hat, i think id be the happiest man alive

  • http://www.facebook.com/heidi.everhart Heidi Ever Heart

    visual masterpiece. xx

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French Trendsetter, living & working in New York : art direction, trend forecasting, styling, designing is part of my daily.
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