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Third Place
Hector Mediavilla Polaris
"The Congolese Sape"
SAPE:Société des Ambianceurs et des Personnes
Élegantes. Severin Mouyengo, who has been a sapeur since the seventies, poses
in the entrace of his family house in the Bacongo neighborhood. SUMMARY: At
the beginning of the XXth century when the French arrived in Congo, the myth
of the Parisian elegance was born among the youth of the Bakongo ethnic
group, who were working for the colonizers. At that time, the white man was
considered superior, someone showing better manners and elegance. In 1922,
Grenard André Matsoua was the first Congolese ever to come back from Paris
dressed as a genuine French. His arrival caused indescribable commotion and
admiration among his fellow countrymen; he became known as the first Grand
Sapeur. Having the respect and admiration of his community, today's sapeurs
consider themselves artists. They add a touch of glamour to their humble
environment through their refined manners and impecable dressing styles. Each
of them is unique showing a particular repertoire of gestures. They all share
the same dream: To go to Paris and return to Brazzaville as an aristocrat of
elegance.
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