by Jamie Elizabeth

Created on: June 21, 2010

During the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa, the vuvuzela has been as much a part of the discussion and commentary as the games themselves. The vuvuzela is a plastic horn that is used by fans in the stand to create noise and to show their enthusiasm for the game. When many vuvuzelas are played together, it sounds like a very loud buzzing noise that has been compared to a beehive.

The extraordinary popularity of the vuvuzela during the 2010 World Cup has been the source of much discussion and argument. Fans, players, and broadcasters have all complained that they impede enjoyment of the game. Those who use the vuvuzela at games have defended the horns as a part of South African culture and as a fun way for fans to show their excitement at the game.

The vuvuzela was originally made using tin, though some claims have been made that it was first invented in 1965 using aluminum. The vuvuzela first became popular in the 1970s in Mexico, where it was used by soccer fans. It was used in South Africa as well, but was not widely used in South African stadiums until the 1990s. Vuvuzelas were made from tin through this time, but after stadiums began banning them because of concerns that they could be used as weapons manufacturers began making them out of plastic.

In 2001, a South African company called Masincedane Sport began mass-producing plastic vuvuzelas. The horns have been an integral part of soccer / football matches in the country ever since. Vuvuzelas are used in other stadiums in other countries as well. They have even begun to be used at American baseball games, as the Florida Marlins passed them out to fans at a game in June 2010. However, other high profile sporting events have banned the vuvuzela entirely. The instrument is not allowed at Yankee Stadium, at Wimbledon matches, and the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

The origin of the word vuvuzela is not known for sure. It has been reported that the name vuvuzela derives from a Zulu word related to “making a vuvu noise.” This is because of the sound that is actually made by the vuvuzela.

The 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa has made the vuvuzela a term that is recognized throughout the world. The instrument and the controversy surrounding its use will be an integral part of any conversation about the tournament for years to come.

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