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more about #congo 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 » odinsraven: Jenna, this may be my favorite piece yet. So fascinating, with so many layers and nuance. You manage to hit on so many aspects of the broader discus... more » jillofalltrades: There is a long tradition of dandyism throughout African diaspora. I'm Nigerian and my uncle was late to my aunt's funeral because he NEEDED a differ... more » gracie1117: As a child of African immigrants, this type of behavior is rampant in their country (Ghana) as well. The aspiration of being seen as more than just a ... more » hollygirl: I find this hearbreaking somehow. more » Pizza!Pizza!Pizza!: This is so hot, and it's nice whenever subcultures in sub-Saharan African countries are highlighted, if only to counteract the impression that the who... 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 » -
#globalroundup
Afghanistan Allows Men to Deny Wives Food For Refusing Sexual Demands • Europe's Peewee Boyz Storm Cheerleading
- In addition to the "no fuck, no food" rule, the new laws in Afghanistan take away a woman's right to be the guardian of her children and allow rapists to avoid persecution by paying "blood money" for the crime. [Guardian]
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#mediamatters
What's More Important: Rape In Congo Or Hillary's Bad Hair Day?
At first the media said Hillary Clinton's visit to Africa was overshadowed by her husband's trip to North Korea. Now the work she's trying to do — including stopping rape in Congo — is overshadowed by coverage of that overshadowing.
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#foreignaffairs
"My Husband Is Not Secretary Of State, I Am"
The fact that an audience member reportedly asked Hillary Clinton "what her husband thought" about a matter of policy in a Congolese town hall meeting today hints at some of the underlying issues Clinton was there to address:
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#hopeinhand
The Faces Of Congo's Women
Hillary Clinton will visit the Democratic Republic of Congo next week to focus attention (and hopefully resources) on the ongoing scourge of rape. And so it seems a good time to focus on some of the victims of that scourge. More » -
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#heartsofdarkness
War Crimes Against Women, Men, Continue Unabated Abroad
This week, as Hillary Clinton visits no fewer than six African nations, American media outlets are running a spate of stories about the ongoing problem of sexual assault as a weapon of war in one of those countries: Congo. More » -
#leftovers
Italian Wedding Ends In Disaster • Women With Migraines Less Likely To Get Breast Cancer
• In an attempt to make the odious tradition of throwing the bouquet a little different, an Italian bride had her flowers flung from a plane. Unfortunately, they got sucked into the plane's engines, causing it to crash. • More » -
#notablequotable
Eve Ensler On Fighting Rape In The Congo
"Because women are at the center of this horror, they must be at the center of the solutions and peace negotiations. Women are the future of Congo. They are its greatest resource." [CNN] -
#dirtbag
Madonna To Marry Jesus?
- Madonna and Jesus Luz are reportedly planning a "commitment ceremony" in front of a rabbi at the Kabbalah Center in New York. Oooh, and a source says:
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#theimportanceofbeauty
In The Congo, A Bit Of Whimsy That Can't Be Contained
Photographer Finnbar O'Reilly captures a lighter side of the women of the Congo, where the style (when it comes to hair) is go big, or go home. His beautiful video is after the jump. More » -
#mustseetv
Eve Ensler's New Monologue Will Take Your Breath Away
I cried watching Eve Ensler performing her new piece, A Teenage Girl's Guide To Surviving Sex Slavery. She ends it, "No one can take anything from you if you do not give it to them." -
#heartsofdarkness
Eve Ensler: "Rape Is A Very Cheap Method Of Warfare"
Congolese rebel leader Laurent Nkunda was arrested in Rwanda on Friday. Nkunda has been accused of encouraging soldiers under his command to use rape as a widespread war strategy. More »
