About this artwork

The contrast between the two main characters in this painting by J.P. Mika could be seen as a commentary on life in Congolese societies. The well-dressed urban chimp in his goggles and bike shorts could be described in local parlance as a “sapeur” and is a striking contrast to the rural, modest individual.

The word “sapeur” comes from French slang “saper,” translated by a Congolese artist as “to dress with class.” A woman associated with “la sape” is called a “sapeuse.” The word “sape” has even been made into an acronym in DRC - the Society of Ambiance-Makers and Elegant People. An emphasis on being elegantly dressed has had political overtones since the movement first emerged in colonial times, and it took on a new meaning in the 1970s as a protest against the government.

Below is a painting by Mika’s mentor, Chéri Chérin, that is also about “La Sape.”