JI dedicate this article to Old Boukoul, one of the leaders of Kongolese sapology. He had the art and manner of dressing. Always beautiful, always elegant, always neat, always clean. My heart is inhabited by sadness because the old man has left, maybe a little too soon. But, the “dead are not dead” tradition tells us. Also, I wish him a good return. May his masterful work inspire the new generation of Kongolese singers. Kende na kimia Papa.
Introduction
To speak of Africa, to speak of the African tradition, is to speak of spirituality. Talking about African elegance undoubtedly refers us to NZAMBI (GOD) because for our ancestors everything, absolutely everything, was related to NZAMBI.
I invite you to take a trip back in time and in the African tradition to try to understand why our ancestors attached so much importance to elegance and style, and why we, their descendant, continue in this way.