Heart of brightness: the Gentlemen of Bacongo

Willy Covary, one of the best known and respected sapeurs, walks down the street in the Bacongo neighbourhood, Brazzaville-Congo. Photograph: guardian.co.uk

Accessories are very important for a sapeur and can mark them out clearly, be it tie, bow tie, braces, hat, cigar, watch, and in this case the sapeur's pipe and glasses. Photograph: guardian.co.uk

Sapeurs congregate and pose together, "We are not scared of Parisians, the Sape in Brazzaville is a giant." Photograph: guardian.co.uk

"Many of the sapeurs are musicians, following in the footsteps of their great leader and inspiration Papa Wemba". Photograph: guardian.co.uk