One of Sarawak’s last five ‘ring ladies’ dies
KUCHING: Ranyu Daiee, a Bidayuh woman who withstood social changes when she kept the tradition of wearing rings around her forearms and calves, has died at the age of 83.
Dubbed the “Ring Lady”, Ranyu, who preserved the tradition with three other women from Kampung Semban, died at 5.30am at her house in the Bengoh Resettlement Scheme (BRS), about 45km from here yesterday.
“My mother had complained of body and throat pain two weeks ago and I took her to a clinic last Monday for treatment,” said one of her sons, Palom Ngarong, 41.
She will be buried tomorrow at the BRS Anglican Church Cemetery.
Ranyu is survived by six children, 22 grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.
Among those who paid their last respects was Deputy Minister of Plantation Industries and Commodities Willie Mongin, who is also Puncak Borneo Member of Parliament.
Ranyu and the three other ring women, namely 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” at their forearms and calves, beginning when 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 peoples 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 first-hand account of the daily life of indigenous peoples through their culture.
According to Kampung Semban headman Sagen Adem, wearing the rings not only symbolises status and beauty. They serve as recognition, as only those who wear the rings are allowed to attend certain festive ceremonies and do the “rejang” or eagle dance.