Greatly a result of Mobutu’s 1973 visit to Beijing, Zairian males were strongly urged, and then required, to abandon Western suits and ties for the Mao-style tunic that he named the "abacost", a word derived from the pronunciation of the French à bas le costume ("down with the suit").
Mobutu's 1973 visit to Beijing resulted in Zairian men being strongly encouraged, and subsequently mandated, to abandon their Western attire for the Mao-style tunic he named the "abacost", a term derived from the French phrase "à bas le costume" ("down with the suit").