KUCHING: Ranyu Daiee, a Bidayuh lady who resisted social changes by continuing with the tradition of wearing rings around her forearms and calves, died today at the age of 83.
Dubbed the ring lady, Ranyu, who preserved the tradition together with three other ladies from Kampung Semban, died at 5.30am at her house at the Bengoh Resettlement Scheme (BRS), about 45 km from here.
“My mother was complaining of body and throat pain since two weeks ago and I took her to a clinic last Monday,” said one of her sons, Palom Ngarong, 41.
She will be buried today at the BRS Anglican Church Cemetery.
Ranyu is survived by six children, 22 grand-children and nine great grandchildren.
Deputy Minister of Plantation Industries and Commodities, Willie Mongin, who is also Puncak Borneo Member of Parliament was among those who paid their last respects to her.
Ranyu and three other ring ladies — Peluk Abeh, Tawud Luhan and Singai Nekan — are believed to be the last Bidayuh women to wear the coiled copper rings, known as “ruyang” and “rasung” on their forearms and calves, since they were 10 years old.
They are members of the Kampung Semban cultural troupe which is often invited to perform at state and national events.
In 2016, the group was invited to perform at the Lo Spirito Del Pianeta, an international festival of indigenous people and tribal groups, in Milan, Italy.
The Milan festival, which gathered cultural troupes and performers from all over the world, was meant to give a firsthand account of the daily lives of the indigenous people through their culture.
According to Kampung Semban headman, Sagen Adem, wearing the rings is not only to symbolise status and beauty, but as a recognition, where only those who wear the rings are allowed to attend certain festive ceremonies and do the rejang, or the eagle dance. — Bernama
