• more about #colonialism more comments →
    cmbowman: To reply to one point: the fact that they abstain from drugs and alcohol does not necessarily make "strangely conservative." It is fairly mainstream i... more »
    quisquous: The fact that only men are shown (I'm not denying that women can participate in similar modes of fashion and representation) is somewhat troubling to ... more »
    not_kinky: I really hate-hate-hate how, for some reason, the press -and some of us- think that fashion is something exclusive from the US and (some countries of)... more »
    amoureuse est heureuse: It's all about showmanship and 1 upping each other. Fally Ipupa is 1 of the biggest Congolese stars out, hence the video below. Bentley, fur coat,... more »
    amoureuse est heureuse: How do I explain this, my people are flashy. Even in the US, if you pull up to a Congolese party, everyone is dressed to the nines. It is part of the... more »
    logruszed: Reminds me of the "Teddy boys" of 1970's England. Sometimes the only way to feel good is to feel like you look good. And these gents have style. As a... more »
    foodandshoes: Something about the captions rubbed me the wrong way. Maybe it was the somewhat paternalistic "oh don't they know they're oppressing themselves" vibe ... more »
    MalinaMango: There are so many layers to this. My first thought was that they look so charming and handsome, and then I started thinking about the situations in Co... more »
    WinterSquirrel: Interestingly, the Mobutu regime actually banned Western-style dress in a bid for African 'authenticity.' Mobutu himself designed the abacost jacket (... more »
    kookla: This is such a fascinating subject, that I'm amazed I've only heard about it until now. more »
    Wandell: This is fabulous beyond words. more »
    randomnessish: This reminds me incredibly of the gay dance halls in "Paris is Burning": notably, the use of designer clothes and looking good not only to promote you... more »
    sumerfish: For some reason, I'm thinking that the last statement: "perhaps they are doing it because self-presentation is one of the few powers they have" is the... more »
    browngirlinthering: there are so many fascinating issues raised here. I had to point out that it's somewhat troublesome to me that some of the analysis of this subculture... more »
    drss33: I remember reading an article about this very subject a couple of years ago and it made me feel sad. An African man living in Paris who worked as a ja... more »
  • #dandyfops

    Gentlemen Of Bacongo: The Dandies Of Sub-Saharan Africa

    A new photo book by Daniele Tamagni explores the phenomenon of sapeurs, a clique of extraordinarily dressed dandies from the Congo. In the midst of war and abject poverty, these men dress in tailored suits, silk ties, and immaculate footwear. More »
  • #chitchat

    Race Relations: What's So Wrong About A Rich White Woman Interested In "Africa"?