Disturbing Vuvuzelas

come blow on the horn

A vuvuzela, sometimes called a "lepatata" (its Setswana name) or a stadium horn, is a blowing horn, approximately one metre in length, commonly blown by fans at soccer matches in South Africa. They require some lip and lung strength to blow and emit a loud monotone like a foghorn or an elephant. It is rumoured that the name of the instrument is a mispronounciation of the name of former West German international footballer Uwe Seeler who played for West Germany in the final of 1966, which West Germany lost 4-2.

A similar instrument (known as Corneta in Brazil) is used by football (soccer) fans in South America. Vuvuzelas have been controversial and can be distracting to players and coaches.

Originally made out of tin, the vuvuzela became popular in South Africa in the 1990s. Well-known Kaizer Chiefs FC fan Freddie "Saddam" Maake claims to have invented the vuvuzela by adapting an aluminium version as early as 1965 from a bicycle horn after removing the black rubber to blow with his mouth. He later found it to be too short and joined a pipe to make it longer. Maake has photos of him in the 1970s and 1980s at local South African games and international games in 1992 and 1996 and at the 1998 World Cup in France, holding the aluminium vuvuzela. He says the instrument was banned as authorities ruled it a dangerous weapon, which prompted him to find a plastic company that could manufacture it.

In 2001, South Africa-based company Masincedane Sport began to mass-produce a plastic version. Neil van Schalkwyk, the co-owner of Masincedane Sport, won the SAB KickStart Award in 2001.

Vuvuzelas have been said to be rooted in African history, but this is disputed.] People would blow on a kudu horn to call villagers to a meeting. Adding to the appeal is South African folklore that "A baboon is killed by a lot of noise." During the last quarter of a match, supporters blow vuvuzelas frantically in an attempt to "kill off" their opponents.

The origin of the name vuvuzela is disputed. It may have originated from Zulu for "making a vuvu noise," directly translated "vuvu-ing" because of the "vuvu" sound it makes, or from township slang related to the word for "shower". Alternately, township slang may have adopted the name for a shower head based on the word vuvuzela because of its similar appearance. Slang in townships of South Africa also adapted the word vuvuzela to describe pumping up a performance.

Some pundits think the name is a mispronounciation of the name of former West German international footballer Uwe Seeler who played for West Germany in the final of 1966, which West Germany lost 4-2.

In early 2010 members of the Nazareth Baptist Church claimed that the vuvuzela belonged to their church, and threatened to pursue legal action to stop fans playing the vuvuzela at the World Cup.

The vuvuzela came to international attention during the run-up to the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup and 2010 FIFA World Cup, both hosted in South Africa. The world football governing body, FIFA, wanted to ban the use of vuvuzelas during the World Cup 2010 because of concerns that hooligans could use the instrument as a weapon and that businesses could place advertisements on vuvuzelas. However the South African Football Association (SAFA) made a presentation that vuvuzelas were essential for an authentic South African football experience, and FIFA decided in July 2008 to drop the ban, allowing vuvuzelas at Confederations Cup. President of FIFA Sepp Blatter opposed banning the vuvuzela, saying "We should not try to Europeanise an African World Cup" FIFA ultimately decided to allow the instrument for the 2010 World Cup as well.

Some football commentators, players and international audiences argued against the vuvuzela during the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup. During the match between United States and Italy, BBC Three commentator Lee Dixon referred to the sounds as "quite irritating". FIFA received complaints from multiple European broadcasters who wanted it banned for the 2010 FIFA World Cup because the sound drowns out the commentators. Netherlands coach Bert van Marwijk and Spanish midfielder Xabi Alonso also called for a ban, the latter saying the horns make it hard for players to communicate and concentrate while adding nothing to the atmosphere.

During the 2010 FIFA World Cup, Hyundai and a local South African advertising agency called Jupiter Drawing Room created the largest working vuvuzela in the world on an unfinished flyover road in Cape Town. The vuvuzela is powered by several air horns attached at the mouth piece end, and it will be blown at the beginning of each of the World Cup Matches.

Some are plain, many are in South Africa’s rainbow flags or buy one with your favourite team’s motif.

Walking around the Water Front and city centre of Cape Town over the last few days and not a moment goes by without competing blasts echoing around the front.

They will be clearly the landmark sound of the 2010 World Cup.

It is observed that these vuvuzelas also double up as a drinking tube, not unlike the famous Bavarian “yards” of ale.

Now anything above the 100 decibel level is injurious to the health of the human inner ear for longer than a period of 15 minutes. Air-horns average 123.6dbs and a drum has an upper range of 122dbs. The referees’ whistle has an average of 121.8dbs. The vuvuzelas however weigh in at a hefty 127dbs!

Supporters will be asked not to blow these during the playing of the team’s National Anthems. I wonder how strictly this will be policed!