Sapeurs try to imitate an exclusive lifestyle that they imagine exists in Europe. Although they are often treated as local celebrities, it is in the poorest neighborhoods that they spend their entire lives, and most will probably never visit cities like Paris or Brussels, the capitals of the two countries that colonized the Congo. Rival Sapeur groups compete for attention and visibility on the streets, and they often appear at major events and on television and radio programs.
SAPE is a unique subculture within the Republic of Congo and the Democratic Republic of Congo. The project was photographed in Kinshasa.
Per-Anders Pettersson (1967) is a Swedish photographer based in Cape Town, South Africa. During his 35-year career, he has covered a wide range of international news events, the first Gulf War, conflicts in the Balkans, Afghanistan and Haiti. He has worked on assignments and projects in over 100 countries. Since 2000, Pettersson has focused on African stories and long-term projects such as in the Democratic Republic of Congo, and in South Africa.
