A VUVUZELA? What on earth is that? If you travel to South Africa in the next year or so, you’ll soon find out.
“What’s plastic, a metre long, brightly coloured and sounds like an elephant? It’s the vuvuzela, the noise-making trumpet of South Africa football fans, and it’s come to symbolize the sport of the country.” So begins the entry on the Fifa World Cup:
2010 Fifa World Cup, www.southafrica.info/2010/vuvuzela.htm
In 2010, South Africa will host one of the greatest sporting events in the world—the Soccer World Cup. As the country gears up for this, the humble vuvuzela has become very controversial, with many fans and players wanting it banned. But many more people say that this stadium horn, or blowing horn, has come to symbolize football (soccer) in South Africa. They cannot imagine the game without the sound of the vuvuzelas and argue that the instrument adds to a unique African atmosphere. The vuvuzela is described as “the noise-making trumpet of South Africa football fans.” Spectators use it to encourage their teams, express their joy (or disappointment) or just to show their excitement.
Initially, they were banned from the World Cup, but the ban was lifted in July 2008, and the plastic instrument with the huge buzz will be a main feature at the games. In recognition of this truly South African instrument, the South African Post Office issued a set of stamps, a commemorative cover and a miniature sheet in June 2009.
The origin of the vuvuzela is unclear but many say that they derive from the kudu horn, blown to summon African villagers to gatherings. First versions were made of tin, but by the late 1990s they had become so popular at soccer matches that a local company formed to mass-produce them in plastic. The bright colors these days reflect different local team colors; For example, black and white for the Orlando Pirates or yellow for Kaiser Chiefs.
The origin of the word “vuvuzela” is also uncertain. Some say it is a Zulu word meaing “sprinkling around”, while others say it originates form township slang related to “shower” or “sprinkle” as it showers people with sound. A fanciful saying from Africa folklore is that “A baboon is killed by a lot of noise.” During the last quarter of a match, supporters blow vuvuzelas frantically, trying to “kill off” their opponents.
Whatever…these plastic instruments with a sound like a foghorn or an elephant are shaping up to become a new part of the football experience, like it or not.
Watch a very interesting You Tube video here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SrYb9qtO8OQ
It’ll never replace the Mexican Wave
(or, singing ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’ or ‘When the Saints Go Marching In’)
Probably not, but it sure is a different (and mostly rather non-melodious) sound.
Good day,
I am about to publish a book on South Africa, for educational purposes. Can you grant me the right to use your “vuvusela2 image” and sent it to me in high resolution?
Your credit will be mentioned.
Regards
Leonard
Hallo Leonard,
That’s interesting that you are publishing a book on South Africa. What kind of book is it?
I’m happy that you found my blog post and you are welcome to use that picture. I will have to search through all my files, as I’m not sure that I have it in high resolution.
Not sure that the VueVueZela will replace the ‘Mexican Wave’.
But hell, we certainly need something to replace the worst ever distraction at a Football Match
Hope the VUVU does not become the same.
Hope we all have a good one – see you there in June
Dennis
Vuvuzela, Kuduzela is us, unique, noise is a spirit of soccer game
Ayoba africans Ayoba!! How we luv our vuvuzelas..I just cant imagine a match without the sounds of it-the occasion will rather feel sombre!
Thanks bro, you can go ahead and educate them about our most valuable trademark at soccer matches-Blowing our beloved Vuvuzelas..
So hello world!! Welcome and experience our soccer games as we will be ‘killing off’ our opponents with the VUVUZELAS!!
Proudly S.An
fear the vuvuzela, fear it!!!
Ban this shit now! whats wrong with old fashioned chants what a way to ruin the world cup!!
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Worst item ever invented.
The S.A. may love it but the rest of the world hates it.
Kills all atmosphere at any game. Thank christ the Eng fans are out shouting it.
Worst of all it will prob turn up at Wembly at our next game.
Continue with the chants and cheering, BAN the Vavuzuea.
I’ve had lots more comments, some if which I didn’t approve as they were rather “rude”—definitely seems that people either love or hate the vuvuzela, with not much in between. Whatever else, it sure has got the world talking!
[…] to celebrate the World Cup. It’s an MP3 file and you can grab it from here.[image from viviennemackie] If you enjoyed this article, please consider sharing […]
[…] I first wrote about vuvuzelas in August 2009 (see here, https://viviennemackie.wordpress.com/2009/08/20/vuvuzela-a-new-football-phenomenon/ ), who would have thought that these simple, usually plastic, “blowers” would become a world […]