Vuvuzela: a medium of voice and noice

            For most travelers, standing in long check-in lines at airport front desks seems to be an arduous task. Everyone, including me is just soo restless to reach their destination. Yet, I am a still somewhat different. I enjoying observing others while in line, taking note of what they wear, where they could be from and what luggage they carry. This time, while coming back here from my home in South Africa, I noticed a rather interesting piece of luggage– the vuvuzela.

Vuvuzela

             I had once thought that the vuvezela is just a plastic instrument created for the 2010 World Cup; but it’s something much more grandeur. Although it has gained a lot of fame and notoriety during the World Cup, its concept has existed in the South African culture for a long period of time. Traditionally made and inspired from a Kudu horn, the vuvuzela was used to summon distant villagers to attend community gatherings. Although many have denied the history of the Kuduzela, it similarities with the ancient Jewish horn Shofar, at least to me cannot be ignored. It was an important medium used by numerous villages in Africa to communicate to one other. Even during the times of Apartheid, many claim that “when there was much sadness in our country, the vuvuzela brought us great joy." Furthermore, as noted by the Predident of FIFA, "the vuvuzelas and drums are like a signature of the culture of Africans and African football. It is part of your celebration and we cannot deny that culture.” 1

Kudu Horn

Shofar

             The ingrained culture of the vuvuzela in every South African can still be seen. At every football (soccer) match I attended, there was not one person without a vuvuzela. We blew that noisy instrument for the entire length of the match, enjoying and cheering our teams to the fullest. Once I got into the rhythm with others, I could truly feel the message being passed from me to the players out at the ground. It felt as though the players in every team could recognize the different styles and pattern of vuvuzela music; it felt like I could talk with them through the vuvuleza. 

Courtesy of Boogieblast,2 a web site dedicated to the vuvuzela, here are some alternative uses:

1. Cricket Bat. [game similar to baseball]
2. Hearing Aid.
3. Petrol funnel.
4. Water sprayer. (force trumpet side down into water)
5. Drinking funnel. Nuff said.
6. 4G mobile communication
7. Walking stick,
8. Light saber. (Just insert a torch) as seen on Starwars….
9. Jousting Stick (simply insert one into another.)
10. And of course… supporting any team/thing you like… 

1. http://fanultra.posterous.com/la-historia-de-la-vuvuzela
2. http://www.boogieblast.co.za/vuvuzela.htm