Bent Nose

An offensive Rilanga gesture indicating that somebody is deviating from social or cultural norms.

History

The precise origins of this gesture are unknown, but it most likely emerged when the animosities between the Rilanga and the Ran-E-Zu began to grow. This would also explain why it is not mentioned on the Guardian of Identity. Said data collection was grounded in the idea of reconciling the enemy factions and therefore focused on their commonalities and positive cultural aspects.
Knowledge of its meaning was, however, passed on by survivors of the Final War. It was later studied by ethnologists and historians as a symptom of the cultural divide, and as such it is still included in school lessions about the topic.
Use of the gesture faded as the survivors from both sides began interbreeding and responsible individualism became widely accepted among the Rilsu. This rendered both the gesture's form and the concept behind it obsolete. Nowadays, the only people who use it are the separatists known as the Children of Rilanga.

Execution

The gesture was performed by flattening the hand and bringing it up to the tip of one's nose so that the fingers protruded on top. This way it mimicked the nose shape typically found in the Ran-E-Zu people and alluded to their lack of conformity.
It was used either behind the insulted person's back or right to their face, depending on factors such as the power difference between both parties or the intensity of the disapproval.

by Kathrin Janowski

Alternative name(s)

Vumbo Ruigre

Type

Emblematic Gesture

Used by

Rilanga
Children of Rilanga

Further Reading