The female individual with the longest neck in the world is known as a giraffe.
Giraffe Woman – It’s possible that when you hear the phrase “giraffe woman,” an awkward mental image of a woman and a giraffe merged together comes to mind. However, the Kayan women of Myanmar are the ones who are meant to be referred to when using the term “giraffe woman.”
This is due to the fact that their necks are long and elegant, much like those of giraffes. The name was coined by travelers from other cultures who had interaction with the Kayan people.
In 2018, the Guinness Book of World Records presented the general public with the longest neck rings that had ever been created. Because they wear these neck rings, which are also referred to as coils, Kayan women in Myanmar have been able to extend their necks in a graceful and distinctive manner for centuries.
Unfortunately, there are potential dangers to one’s health associated with the practice of giving the appearance of having a longer neck. Even though many people think that body manipulation is an archaic and potentially harmful tradition, they continue to adhere to the belief that tradition comes first.
The History Behind the Neck Rings.
The Kayan women have the distinction of wearing the neck rings that are the longest in the world. The majority of people are under the impression that these brass coils have also been used in other cultures, but this is not the case. According to the findings of archaeologists, the procedure of neck elongation can be traced back to Asia during the 11th century. They also believe that the coils may have been around even further back in time than that.
The people of the West also wore neck rings, but they did so in a different manner. It is known that people from the Celtic culture wore them. Torcs were neck rings worn by men, particularly wealthy and powerful Celts, to denote their status in the community as well as their wealth and power.
Groups of Peoples Who Wear Neck Rings.
Now that we understand where neck rings came from, it is time to talk about the women who continue to wear them in modern times. When it comes to neck rings, there are two different tribes that are noteworthy. One of them is the Kayan people of Myanmar, and the other is the Ndebele tribe of Africa. Both of these groups live in Southeast Asia.
Kayan Women of Myanmar.
In order to prevent the animals from suffocating, these neck rings are updated annually with new ones that are longer and wider. The vast majority of Kayan women do not have their neck rings removed unless it is strictly necessary for medical reasons. This indicates that, with a few notable exceptions, Kayan women consider wearing neck rings to be the norm rather than the exception.
They eventually made their home in a camp known as “The Long Neck Section,” and ever since that time, tourists have been coming to see them there.
Ndebele People Originally From Africa.
The members of the Ndebele tribe are known for having some of the continent’s longest neck rings. These brass coils on their arms and legs are also a part of the matching set that includes the African neck rings that are featured here.
Once their husband has finished building their home, married Ndebele women will begin to wear the brass rings known as idzila. The tribal neck rings worn by Ndebele people are considered to be a status symbol. This is due to the fact that the greater the quantity of idzila a Ndebele woman wears, the wealthier her husband is. Ndebele women who have been married for at least one year are not permitted to remove their traditional African neck rings until their husband has passed away. Having the idzila removed whenever the individual desires to do so is however now considered acceptable behavior.
In contrast to the Kayan women, the Ndebele women who have just gotten married or are still single wear a different kind of jewelry than the Kayan women do. Isigolwani are grass hoops that are used in place of the actual idzila until the Ndebele woman’s husband has finished building her house.
It is still not known where the Ndebele people originally came from. Archaeologists, on the other hand, have established that these people are members of the Nguni tribes (Zulu-speaking, Xhosa-speaking, and Swazi people.).
The Northern Ndebele and the Southern Ndebele are the two distinct groups that make up the Ndebele people. Mghumbhane, Mashashani, and Gheghana are the three tribes that make up the Northern Ndebele. While at the same time, the Ndzundza and Manala tribes make up the Southern Ndebele.
Concerns Raised About One’s Health When Using Neck Rings.
Even though it is an age-old tradition, the practice of wearing neck rings is associated with a higher risk of developing health problems. Because of this, Sydney Smith, who referred to herself as a “giraffe woman,” decided to take off all of her neck rings after wearing them for a period of five years.
Sydney Smith was motivated to imitate her favorite animal, the giraffe, by the elaborate neck rings worn by the Kayan women. She wanted to wear the longest neck rings she could find. After a period of five years, the woman who had been wearing the neck rings eventually took them off and gave an interview about her time spent wearing them. She explains that being forced to wear the rings made it difficult for her to carry out tasks on her own. She was unable to operate a motor vehicle, was unable to move her head, and could not work effectively to support herself.
Cultural Significance.
The absence of rings on a giraffe woman is something that piques the interest of most people. There are, however, only two reasons that Kayan women might choose to remove their rings: either to replace them with a more recent coil or for medical reasons. The Kayan people’s cultural coils evolved into a representation of their unique identity over time. This may be the reason why they choose to wear the neck rings every day despite the risks to their health and the impairment of their body functions that come with doing so.
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