Importance of the sapeurs  in the Congolese culture:
The young sapeurs were the first “adventurers” that traveled to Europe (especially to Paris), and came back with new ideas and objects unknown
in Africa in those days. In this day and age, the situation has changed
and young Congolese, like many other Africans, see in Europe the only solution to their problems. Everybody wants to go to Europe to escape a
dire situation.

A  sapeur, by definition is a non-violent person, despite the 3 civil wars that have taken place since the independence. They stand for an exquisite morality, but as they say “There can only be Sape when there is peace”. They represent an illusion that has been supported by the government itself, trying to normalize a post-war situation. The Société des Ambienceurs et des Persones Elegantes interrupted its activities when the civil war started in 1997, and did not reinitiate its activities until 2002. Their motto became “Let’s drop the weapons, let us work and dress elegantly.”

They are a symbol of national identity. The common Congolese are proud to be the most elegant among Africans. The sapeurs would be the elite somehow. The famous Kinshasa (capital of RDC or former Zaire) musician Papa Wemba, who often visited Brazzaville, became fascinated by the sapeurs and their ways. It was him who made popular and gave an international dimension to the Sape phenomenon in the 60’s with his songs. They have become somehow a model for the rest of the country. Rich people and especially politicians are forced to dress elegantly and be polite. The most important ministers hired “Romario” the sapeur as an advisor when he returned from Paris.

The Other Side of Africa.The Congolese Sape is also an unknown and extravagant reality that shows to us a different side to Africa, unlike the usual wars, famines, safaris, or papier-mâché tribalism.