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KINSHASA, DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO - FEBRUARY 12: A Sapeur dressed up shows his designer label clothes and glasses in Mombele, a suburb on February 12, 2012 in Kinshasa, DRC. The word Sapeur comes from SAPE, a French acronym for SociÈtÈ des Ambianceurs et Persons …lÈgants. or .Society of Revellers and Elegant People. and it also means, .to dress with elegance and style{quote}. Most of the young Sapeurs are unemployed, poor and live in harsh conditions in Kinshasa, a city of about 10 million people. For many of them being a Sapeur means they can escape their daily struggles and dress like fashionable Europeans. Many hustle to build up their expensive collections. Most Sapeurs could never afford to visit Paris, and usually relatives send or bring clothes back to Kinshasa. This sapeur belongs to a groups headed by Papa Griffe, a self proclaimed leader of the Sapeurs in Kinshsa. (Photo by Per-Anders Pettersson)

KINSHASA, DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO - FEBRUARY 12: A Sapeur dressed up shows his designer label clothes and glasses in Mombele, a suburb on February 12, 2012 in Kinshasa, DRC. The word Sapeur comes from SAPE, a French acronym for SociÈtÈ des Ambianceurs et Persons …lÈgants. or .Society of Revellers and Elegant People. and it also means, .to dress with elegance and style". Most of the young Sapeurs are unemployed, poor and live in harsh conditions in Kinshasa, a city of about 10 million people. For many of them being a Sapeur means they can escape their daily struggles and dress like fashionable Europeans. Many hustle to build up their expensive collections. Most Sapeurs could never afford to visit Paris, and usually relatives send or bring clothes back to Kinshasa. This sapeur belongs to a groups headed by Papa Griffe, a self proclaimed leader of the Sapeurs in Kinshsa. (Photo by Per-Anders Pettersson)