The Sound That Brings People Together
From the beat of the samba drums in Brazil to the Mexican wave, the idiosyncrasies of several nationalities become apparent at football matches. South Africans are no exception, as those who have descended on the country for this year's FIFA Confederations Cup have discovered. What's plastic, a meter long, brightly colored and sounds like an elephant? It's the vuvuzela, the noise-making trumpet of South African football fans, and it's come to symbolize the sport in the country.
When there's action near the goalmouth, those bees go really crazy. To get that sound out requires lip flexibility and lung strength - in short, a fair amount of technique. So be sure to get in some practice before attending a South African football match or the sound you produce may cause some amusement in the seats around you! If you visit a football match in South Africa, Vuvuzelas make such a noise, comparable with a swarm of bees. The sound of a Vuvuzela is silenced only long after the football game has finished. Already during the Confederations Cup 2009 in South Africa, many football fans from around the world got to know the "Sound of South Africa". The vuvuzela is a vociferous air horn that reverberates around arenas with rare energy. It is also a proud and permanent symbol of the South African fans. I feel that without the vuvuzela, I don't think I would be able to enjoy football. It brings a special feeling to the stadiums. It is something that makes the fans want to get behind their team.
The vuvuzela was introduced to the world as an item synonymous with South African football on 15 May 2004, when it was announced the nation would host the 19th edition of the FIFA World Cup. Upon confirmation of the decision, South Africa's sports minister Makhenkesi Stofile and then-finance minister Trevor Manuel led the chorus of vuvuzelas in the presence of dignitaries and members of the media from across the globe. However, its sheer volume has taken many by surprise during the FIFA Confederations Cup. "For someone who is not used to it, it might be a bit awkward. Fans from outside South Africa should be educated about the vuvuzela and what role it plays for South Africans. As a soccer fan, I personally don’t have a problem with it at all. Evidently, the vuvuzela is deeply entrenched in football culture in a country fiercely dedicated to staging an unforgettable FIFA World Cup. "It is African culture, we are in Africa and we have to allow them to practice their culture as much as they want to," said FIFA President Joseph S. Blatter. Vuvuzelas, drums and singing are part of African football culture. It is part of their celebration, it is part of their culture, and so let them blow the vuvuzelas.
