FASHION HAS BEEN A HIGH FACTOR OF CONGOLESE MUSIC FOR SEVERAL YEARS AND I WOULD JUST LIKE TO MAKE AN ARTICLE ON IT.

Origins
Fashion has always been important in Congo obviously in the Mobutu years taking Congolese people back to authenticity of African wear instead of western wear which was bought in by the Belgians. In the 60's singers and musicians like Grand Kalle, Tabu Ley, Dr.Nico, Franco, Bavon Marie-Marie and co. wore suits and trousers typical western. In the 1970s OK Jazz, Afrisa and co. changed their styles especially Franco's OK Jazz obviously Franco supporting Mobutu political party, so by then authenticity reached its climax (peak) musicians wore bancos (if you're Congolese you would know). Younger generation of Zaiko and other groups changed this style (disobeying the Mobutu laws) and started wearing t-shirts, shirts, suit, long trousers, tweed hats and other western wear. (look at Zaiko in the 1970's, Orchestre Stukas of Lita Bembo, Les Bakuba and others).

Exposure
Congolese people started to migrate to Europe along with Congolese people of Brazza and in the late 1970s fashion (brands) became popular in Paris even till the 80's, Papa Wemba & Viva La Musica pioneered and expanded this fashion (brand) extravaganza. Papa Wemba was friends with a highly ambitious iconic sapeur named Stervos Niarcos (R.I.P) (also cited on Bozi Boziana song "Toutou" in the 70's) who introduced him fashion styles and material such leather, linen and shoe styles, King Kester Emeneya was present at this presentation of fashion. J.M Weston shoes (later would become highly popular shoes) was given to Papa Wemba and many other sorts fashion brand wears also some given to Emeneya and Djuna Djanana (the two also being interested in fashion). When Viva went back to Congo fashion became a new hobby for Kinois people (Kinshasa people). "Matebu" a song by Papa Wemba dedicated to fashion which notes fashion brands like "Gianni Versace", "JM Weston", "Cacharel" and many others. Another Iconic member in fashion was Ben Nyambo who has big fan Zaiko at the time he had a Store called "Scrapa Uomo" which had fashion brands Djuna Djanana was friends with him and later added him to Langa Langa Stars so they can be able to have fashion brands Djanana and Bozi highly engaging themselves to fashion. King Kester Emeneya kept supporting the SAPE movement when he left Viva to create Victoria Eleison with other members same with Papa Wemba. In the early 1980's fashion got big and knowns as "forme", "sape" and "bilele". Defao the member of Choc Stars also promoted the sape movement. In the late 80s "Modogo Gianfranco Ferre" also promoted the sape culture along with Papa Wemba and Bozi Boziana with songs like "Le Jour J" "Place Vendome",  "Ba Venants" and others Modogo became another iconic member for the sape movement not forgetting songs like "Proclamation" duos of Niarcos and Viva La Musica. Japanese were also dominant Yohji Yamamoto.

Mass Growth and Expansion
In the late 1980s and early 1990's "sape" became a phenomenon in the Congolese culture, people's lifestyle would change as they would become sapeurs buying expensive clothes and showing it off and at the time classic wear as in fashion Shoes, trousers, suits, shirts, ties, jackets, scarves and etc. Wenge generation also promoted fashion especially JB, Werrason and iconic member Adolphe Dominguez who was a friend of another sapeur Defao, songs like "Non Comment Schengen" was dedicated to clothes as well. In the Mid 90's fashion started to change to much younger urban youth style emphasized by JB Mpiana (Wenge) with the "Bana Mindele" sports wear including Jumpers, tracksuits, american football, football, basketball t-shirts, trainers, rugby shirts, raincoats, dungarees, beanie hats and other wear. During the mid and late 90's this style became so dominant that Quartier Latin, Extra Musica, Quartier Latin Academia and other bands followed this style (Nike, Tommy Hilfiger, Adidas and others being iconic brands). Somehow Adolphe & Werra tried to revive the typical classic wear of suit and trousers but it was ignored by the Congolese population and they also followed the trend, King Kester Emeneya also started Denim wear in 2000s which also became a popular. JB popularized Fubu, Nike and other sports urban brands influenced by Hip-hop artists. Eventually in the early mid 2000s "bana mindele" took-over with musicians wearing jeans, t-shirts, shirts, canvases, trainers, socks, basketball/football shirts, caps, coats  in the hot sun and many other wear to copy the western world style. Going to Late 2000s/ Early 2010s Fally Ipupa became iconic member of fashion as he introduced a style called "Fashion!" by pulling his trousers down so you can see his boxers which will be boxer brand also his dread-locked hair this became another phenomenon in Congo by young people. Ralph Lauren also popularized by JB Mpiana late 2000s early 2010s.

Current Day
In current day there is two sides of fashion "Classic" wear pioneered by Papa Wemba, Bozi Boziana and King Kester Emeneya and "Fashion" pioneered by Fally Ipupa (slightly JB Mpiana too). Sape is taken very seriously by Congolese people as they create events for Fashion.

Thank You! enjoy fellow bloggers!

Werrason is not fashionable he likes to wear pajamas when he's performing on stage.

Jdog in the 1990s he was as he defended the "Japonais" style along his friends which are sapeurs such as Yula Bosle

Werrason is Congolese not Japanese he needs to stop with that type of attire same with his ex boss JB Mpiana Papa Cheri.......Werra a benga ex-colleague na ye Ferre po a ya ko tongissa ba bilamba ne ye.

  Jdog Werra & JB had a good dress in the 90's although I do believe JB is iconic in terms of fashion I think Werra lost his credibility as he is to adventurous with his wear as you noted knitted wear. Nonetheless Jdog I think you are deep fan of Ferre who is a great singer but has a horrible dress a kende na mayombe ba yebisi ndenge ya ko lata bilamba. And for the Japanese I find entertainment and laughable so it to guard in music.

Compare this

To what ever the hell this is 

As I said Werra lost his credibility because he is too adventurous, if you look at him in Solola Bien videos you'd be pretty impressed with his dress sense but I do agree with you his dress sense now is beyond poor. Ferre dress sense is also poor the picture you put was good but look at him in the Avant Gout DVD cover he looks like a fat mini panda or in one interview with Mamie Ilela some weird suit but some time he looks good, he is just like his vieux nsone

Werra is not Ferre's "vieux" he is old enough to be his leader *cough* little brother...and what Ferre wore with the interview with Mamie Ilela was a very classic look nice suit with some nice red slim pants.

Either way his older than him, Ferre suit that day weren't too good in my opinion but I like JB Mpiana's dress sense he knows how to look young and old in different occasions

Yes although JB likes to dress in those ridiculous Japanese outfits he is very good dresser and he dresses with some sense unlike his ex-musician Werrason Le vieux Menopause....I really like Fally's style he is the best dresser I've ever seen in my opinion.

 

It's terrible.

It's terrible.

What is?

It's terrible.

What is?

Fashion is Congolese music

It's terrible.

What is?

Fashion is Congolese music

Haha that is your opinion.