By decorating the body with specific items of jewellery, people send out a subtle message that they belong to a specific culture, class or social group (Metcalf 1998:3). This is the function of status. Without saying a word, upon one glance, other members of society can see what type of social grouping you fall under by the type of jewellery you wear (Metcalf 1998:3).
The following image shows an Ndebele woman wearing a set of rings around her neck to show her status in her community. "The Ndebele wife would wear copper and brass rings around her arms, legs and neck, symbolising her bond and faithfulness to her husband." (Siyabona Africa 2017)
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| Ndebele Woman, Wearing Rings Around the Neck Indicating Status |
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