Ya just won’t…
Yep, time to know when to stop tryin…
I couldn’t compete…
Ah, “sapeurs” (I had to search that). They seem to have their priorities in check. More info about this odd culture here, here and here.
“This is a Congolese “Sapeur” - They’re gangs of men that spend tens of thousands of dollars on expensive European designer suits while frequently otherwise living in abject poverty” - a quote from the first link Good to know they have their priorities in order.
Reminds me of the guy’s driving Caddy Escalades with custom Ostrich Skin seats around Chicago, only to park behind the projects at night.
I was studying last winter with this Congolese guy who was always very well dressed and he told that was his uncle’s influence, he was one of the early sapeurs in Paris.
I guess whatever gets you through the day. Poverty is a funny thing. Often times you’ll buy the most expensive thing you can because you don’t have much else you can really do with your money. But you can save up and buy a caddy. Sure you might not be able to afford rent much. I remember getting a lot of flack from people for getting ahold of some thousands of dollars and buying some expensive things (all of which I still have and use) instead of saving it. It was like man I’ve barely been able to buy anything to make me happy now that I can it’s worth it.
Another interesting thing about these gangs instead of fighting with fists or weapons they vogue. So there is some very social redemable aspects to their culture.
Really dig those specs.
Somebody get them some snuff!
Can you free-base snuff?
Yeah actualy it’s already a semi-free based.
This should be in off-topic.
Donker sleutel = Dark Key = Darkie = Black man = my friend
Donker sleutel= dark key? What is the meaning? We have sapeurs in London. There used to be a monthly sapeur event at cafe de paris which I went to a couple of times. Really amazing subcuture and the epitome of cool. I would also vote for the Zazou as cooler than cool. In France during the war, this jazz inspired youth cult dressed super natty and some members wore star of david yellow patches for kicks.
@ Pieter Claassen. Thanks for the elucidation, the phrase baffled me.
Never quite sure what now constitutes the colloquial description “cool”. It used to apply to persona such as Steve McQueen and not to pantomime caricatures fresh from a glee singing contest in Senegal or another fun day in Idi Amin’s State Research Bureau. Sorry, but the individual shown here is, to my eyes, just a corrupt-looking conceited idiot.
My understanding was that the phrase cool, was first used by slaves in the U.S. It denoted a way of being that allowed one to retain a sense of self respect in the face of oppression. I think it also suggested a situationist or prankster like concern for manifesting a revealing of a situation or a detournement. The sapeur’s theatrical commentary on poverty is, I think, revealing and thought provoking.