Sapeurs are gentlemen (and occasionally ladies) from Brazzaville (the capital of the Republic of Congo) who have made an art form out of dressing in very colorful yet very elegant French fashion kinds of clothes. They are not rich (the average income is less than $400 per month), but they save their money for designer suits and accessories. There are very strict and well-established rules (such as that a perfect ensemble may not have more than three colors) which distinguish a Sapeur from someone who merely dresses garishly.
They generally act as ambassadors for good moral conduct, proper etiquette, and peace in a country which had a bloody civil war in the late 1990s and which is still recovering from terrible poverty. They have normal day jobs but sometimes get hired out to appear at weddings or funerals. They are well revered in the community and provide onlookers with a momentary respite from the destitution around them. They welcome newcomers to their ranks.
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