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Fashion meets culture - 10th March 2023

Sapeurs are elegant dressers in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) who belong to La Sape. La Sape is the Society of Ambiance Makers and Elegant People. They've come together in the capital, Kinshasa, for Sapper Day. They're also asking the Congolese government to accept their fashion as art.

The sapeurs’ style came from West African colonial workers. They brought their fashion with them to the Congo. In the Congo, it was first worn by the rich to show their social class. Later, the younger generation used it to create their own style.

Nowadays, many sapeurs work low-paying jobs or have no work, but they still pay attention to their appearance.

Papa Kimwanga: "I work as a master painter and I am also resourceful. I ask the government to give me a job. I have children and with what I earn, I buy clothes."

The Congo experienced lots of violence and was divided into two countries. But La Sape has lasted through those times until today. The President of the Republic of the Congo decided that the style was 'cultural heritage'. Now, sapeurs are respected.

But this isn't the case in the DRC. Six Lokoto wants the government to support them just like other artists.

Six Lokoto: "We sappers are abandoned. You only support the players and musicians. Today, you have taken musicians on tour to Dubai and Turkey. Why not us sapeurs? We are artists, we are very efficient. We ask our government to support us 100%."