Here at Queerguru we like to bring stories of the fanciful and exotic from time to time, and right now we could all do with some rich colors and the happiness they bring .

We came across the ‘Sapeurs’ while looking at the history of ‘dandies’. The Sapeurs are a group of men of the Congo, mainly in Brazzaville, who put style and the way they dress beyond everything else.

The name comes from the French slang ‘sape’ which translates as clothes or dressing up. The name is also the abbreviation of Le Société des Ambianceurs et des Personnes Élégantes. It is a whole way of life for these flamboyant guys a particular state of mind with an eye for the extravagant.

Color is the overriding theme that runs through their outrageous outfits. They parade in front of each other in the most expensive outfits that they can afford. They are from all walks of life, builders, farmers, mechanics etc.

They save or borrow all their money to buy designer labels from Europe –  Kenzo, YSL, Armani and Hugo Boss. All of this is in stark contrast to their humble surroundings and makes them into true local celebrities with fame but at a price.

The influence of their style and color co-ordinations has been seen in the recent autumn/winter 2020  menswear collections. An Austrian -Nigerian designer Kenneth Ize made his debut, using African traditional sourced weaves and colorful fabrics, showed in Paris recently and closed the show with Naomi Campbell. Other designers such as Paul Smith, Y3, Boss and Fendi joined in with this carnival of vibrant color.

International documentary photographer Tariq Zaidi has a book called “Sapeurs :Ladies and Gentlemen of the Congo”  to pre-order now on Amazon, publishing May 2020.

GRAHAM FRASER Queerguru’s Culture, Fashion and Arts  Correspondent was once half of the award winning fashion designer duo WORKERS FOR FREEDOM. Years spent working in the luxury end of International fashion he now lives with his partner the artist RICHARD NOTT and their two Cavapoos Albert and Raf in a stunning renovated 1950’s house on the edge of the Sussex Downs with distant sea views.