What do you think of the Vuvuselas at soccer matches?

I can tell whenever Bob puts a soccer match on, from anywhere in the house, because that ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ begins ...

They are very loud we have three of them here were i live in Germany, and all the neighbours have at least one. But we all agree that in the stadium they shouldn�t be allowed it dissturbes the concentration of the players.

I think they do distract the players! But it is African culture so it is not something I would like to see banned, I think if the crowd want to be heard chanting or singing they need to do it louder! It makes for a good atmosphere I think. (although they do sound like bees and I wish they would play a tune on them!)

Alice - I've read many different articles on the "African Culture" angle. Apparently according to some their use in soccer matches began in South America, and only after that did they grow in popularity in South Africa. I.e. while the Africans had similar shaped horns, they were "borrowing" a fad that began elsewhere. And I'm hearing from several South Africans that the true tradition of South Africans was to sing songs at matches, songs that were unique and beautiful. All of that native tradition is being lost to a one-note buzzing.

Oh, I didn't know that Lisa. Thanks for the information. Well that's interesting and I can see that being a strong possibility. It makes a lot of sense put it that way!

I think (or is that hope?) The vuvuzela is a fad. What they need in the meantime is a conductor
Yeah I would love to hear the crowd over the vuvuzela a bit more, or maybe a nice balance. Vuvuzela when it becomes to quiet and fade to chanting and singing and music when needed. But of course soccer crowds are always spontaneous so they wouldn't like that, not at all! I know the BBC experimented with sound engineering it out, but it is the wrong frequency which makes it difficult or something.

I'd prefer to have heard some of those songs! Definately.

From what I read the vuvuzela is based on an end-blown trumpet created from a Kudu horn. The first modern vuvuzela is attributed to a guy in South Africa who made one out of a bicycle horn.

There are different sized vuvuzelas & each gives off a different note, so I suppose that may be why it's hard to filter out. My husband absolutely hates the vuvuzelas. So, I got a vuvuzela app for my iPhone, play it & yell vuvuzela! I'm just waiting for him to serve me with divorce papers.

I do have an article going live tomorrow about the vuvuzela on the African Culture site.