LA SAPE
With Knowledge Comes Tolerance
 

La Sape is an abbreviation for Société des Ambianceurs et des Personnes Élégantes (The Society of Ambiance-Makers and Elegant People) and a follower of the movement is referred to as a Sapeur (french for "to dress with class"). Simply, Sapeurs are the "Dandies" of Africa.  Sapeurs are an elegant, colorful, and fashionable contrast to the area's history of poverty, disease, malnutrition and heavy conflict.  The social movement is centered in Brazzaville, the capital of the Republic of Congo.  The movement has existed since Congo's colonialization, but it was revived in the 1970 by musician Papa Wemba.  

The ideology is to have respect for yourself, have pride in yourself by taking care of yourself and a gentleman is peaceful and honorable.  Their movement is supposed to be inspirational to the public as well as politicians who too often choose violent policies.