After receiving his first camera at the age of 14, Tariq Zaidi dreamed of shooting for National Geographic. “Over the years I used to travel a lot,” he says. “My aim was to see the world, as many places as I could, travelling with a small backpack and just going.”
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While traveling from Morocco to South Africa by land in 2013, Zaidi was dazzled by the sight of a Sapeur. Determined to learn more, in 2017, the photographer traveled to Brazzaville and Kinshasa to learn more about the Congolese fashion culture known as La Sape, “Société des Ambianceurs et des Personnes Élégantes” (Society of Ambiance-Makers and Elegant People).
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In Sapeurs: Ladies and Gentlemen of the Congo (Kehrer), Zaidi presents a series of stunning environmental portraits and interviews with members of La Sape in both cities. “Congolese people are known for taking pride in their appearance – yet La Sape takes the art of looking good to the next level,” Zaidi says.
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