For sapeurs, appearance is a powerful way to make an impression and stand out in an environment often defined by hardship.

In the two Congos, there's a cultural movement by the Society of Ambience-Makers and Elegant People (Sape), known as "sapeurs", who blend fashion, culture and social resistance. Though it was rooted ...

It served as a way for people to express their self-worth and respectability ... particularly under the regime of President Mobutu Sese Seko of Zaire (now DR Congo). He advocated for the rejection of ...