The vuvuzela , also known as lepatata Mambu, is a plastic horn, about 65 centimetres long,
which produces a loud monotone note, typically around B♭ 3. Some models are made in two
parts to facilitate storage, and this design also allows pitch variation. Many types of
vuvuzela, made by several manufacturers, may produce various intensity and frequency outputs.
The intensity of these outputs depends on the blowing technique and pressure exerted.
Traditionally made and inspired from a kudu horn, the vuvuzela was used to summon distant
villagers to attend community gatherings. The vuvuzela is most used at football matches
in South Africa, and it has become a symbol of South African football as the stadiums
are filled with its sound. The intensity of the sound caught the attention of the global
football community during the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup in anticipation of South Africa hosting
the 2010 FIFA World Cup. The vuvuzela has been the subject of controversy
when used by spectators at football matches. Its high sound pressure levels at close range
can lead to permanent hearing loss for unprotected ears after exposure, with a sound level of
120 dB(A) at 1 metre from the device opening.
Origin
Plastic aerophones, like corneta and similar devices, have been used in Brazil and other
Latin American countries since the 1960s. These plastic horns have been marketed and
available in the United States as "Stadium Horns" since the mid-1960s. Similar horns
have been in existence for much longer. An instrument that looks like a vuvuzela appears
in Winslow Homer's 1870 woodcut "The Dinner Horn".
The origin of the device is disputed. The term vuvuzela was first used in South Africa
from the Zulu language or Nguni dialect meaning to make a vuvu sound. Controversies over the
invention arose in early 2010. South African Kaizer Chiefs fan Freddie "Saddam" Maake claimed
the invention of the vuvuzela by fabricating an aluminium version in 1965 from a bicycle
horn and has photographic evidence of himself holding the aluminium vuvuzela in the 1970s,
1980s and 1990s. He also claimed to have coined vuvuzela from the Zulu language for "welcome",
"unite" and "celebration". Plastics factory Masincedane Sport popularised the ubiquitous
plastic vuvuzela commonly heard at South African football games in 2002, and the Nazareth Baptist
Church claimed the vuvuzela belonged to their church.
International tournaments
The world association football governing body, FIFA, proposed to ban vuvuzelas from stadiums,
as they were seen as potential weapons for hooligans and could be used in ambush marketing.
Columnist Jon Qwelane described the device as "an instrument from hell". South African
football authorities argued that the vuvuzela was part of the South African football experience.
The Spanish midfielder Xabi Alonso said, "Those trumpets? That noise I don't like ... FIFA
must ban those things ... it is not nice to have a noise like that". Commentator Farayi
Mungazi said, "Banning the vuvuzela would take away the distinctiveness of a South African
World Cup ... absolutely essential for an authentic South African footballing experience".
Dutch coach Bert van Marwijk remarked, "... it was annoying ... in the stadiums you get used
to it but it is still unpleasant". FIFA President Sepp Blatter responded, "we should not try
to Europeanise an African World Cup ... that is what African and South Africa football
is all about – noise, excitement, dancing, shouting and enjoyment". Despite the criticisms,
FIFA agreed to permit their use in stadiums during the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup and
2010 FIFA World Cup. The South African football authority argued that during FIFA World Cup
2010, vuvuzelas achieved great popularity, though TV spectators suffered a lot due to
Vuvuzela noise pollution.
2010 FIFA World Cup Marketing
Hyundai constructed the world's largest working vuvuzela as part of a marketing campaign for
the World Cup. The 35-metre blue vuvuzela in Cape Town was intended to be used at the
beginning of each match; however, it had not yet sounded a note during the World Cup as
its volume was a cause of concern to city authorities.
Reception Its ubiquity led to many suggestions for limiting
its use, muffling its sound, and even an outright ban.
Broadcasting organisations experienced difficulties with their presentations. Television and radio
audiences often heard only the sound of vuvuzelas. The BBC, RTE, ESPN and BSkyB have examined
the possibility of filtering the ambient noise while maintaining game commentary.
The vuvuzelas raised health and safety concerns. Competitors believed the incessant noise hampered
the ability of the players to get their rest, and degraded the quality of team performance.
Other critics remarked that vuvuzelas disrupted team communication and players' concentration
during matches. Demand for earplugs to protect from hearing loss during the World Cup outstripped
supply, with many pharmacies out of stock. One major vuvuzela manufacturer even began
selling its own earplugs to spectators. Audio filtration
Notch filtering, an audio filtration technique, is proposed to reduce the vuvuzela sound in
broadcasts and increase clarity of commentary audio. The vuvuzela produces notes at a frequency
of approximately 235 Hz and its first partial at 465 Hz. However, this filtration technique
affects the clarity of commentary audio. The publication of adaptive filters by universities
and organisations address this issue by preserving the amplitude and clarity of the commentators'
voices and crowd noise. Such filtration techniques have been adopted by some cable television
providers. Health effects and regulation
Health concerns
A study in 2010 by Dr Ruth McNerney of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine,
and colleagues, concluded that the spread of diseases by means of vuvuzelas was possible.
McNerney found tiny droplets at the bottom of a vuvuzela that can carry flu and cold
germs that are small enough to stay suspended in the air for hours, and can enter into the
airways of a person's lungs. The vuvuzelas can infect others on a greater scale than
coughing or shouting. The vuvuzelas have the potential to cause
noise-induced hearing loss. Prof James Hall III, Dr Dirk Koekemoer, De Wet Swanepoel and
colleagues at the University of Pretoria found that vuvuzelas can have a negative effect
when a listener's eardrums are exposed to the instrument's high-intensity sound. The
vuvuzelas produce an average sound pressure of 113 dB(A) at 2 metres from the device opening.
The study finds that subjects should not be exposed to more than 15 minutes per day at
an intensity of 100 dB(A). The study assumes that if a single vuvuzela emits a sound that
is dangerously loud to subjects within a 2-metre radius, and numerous vuvuzelas are typically
blown together for the duration of a match, it may put spectators at a significant risk
of hearing loss. Hearing loss experts at the U.S. National Institute for Occupational Safety
and Health recommend that exposure at the 113 dB(A) level not exceed 45 seconds per
day. A newer model has a modified mouthpiece that reduces the volume by 20 dB.
Noise levels and bans Concerns about the constant intensities produced
by the vuvuzelas during the 2010 FIFA World Cup matches were raised independently by representatives
of international football teams, spectators and sports commentators. The noise levels
that were demonstrated during the 2010 FIFA World Cup prompted various sporting organisations
to ban the vuvuzela at future events:
Some shopping centres in South Africa banned the use of vuvuzelas. They were also banned
at the 2010 Baltimore anime convention Otakon, the convention committee declared that any
attendee carrying a vuvuzela could have it confiscated from them, and that anyone blowing
one could face expulsion from the event. Another such action was taken in response
to the prevalence of the vuvuzelas at the 2010 Anime Expo based in Los Angeles, attended
by representatives of Otakon who felt the disruption led to discomfort for some of the
attendees of Anime Expo which they wished to avoid at the later Baltimore event.
Nine English Premier League clubs have banned the device. Five clubs have banned them due
to health and safety reasons while Sunderland, West Ham United and West Bromwich Albion have
barred them because of policy against musical instruments. Manchester United banned vuvuzelas
from Old Trafford on August 13, 2010. However, two clubs have allowed them.
The organisers of the 2012 Olympic Games placed a ban on vuvuzelas at the sporting event.
Usage in protests On July 13, 2010, protesters with vuvuzelas
converged on BP's London headquarters to protest the company's handling of the Deepwater Horizon
oil spill. In Wisconsin, the Anti-Walker, pro-union protesters
have made extensive use of vuvuzelas. A Madison DJ, Nick Nice, ordered 200 and distributed
them to his fellow protesters. The Madison police even issued permits for use of the
vuvuzelas inside the capitol. In March 2012, German protesters used vuvuzelas
during the official traditional torchlight ceremony, the Großer Zapfenstreich, which
bid farewell to President of Germany Christian Wulff. Wulff had resigned earlier over corruption
allegations, yet he still received the honor of the military ceremony, which left Germany
divided. [1] Vuvuzela Sound
See also Makarapa – a hand-made hat worn by spectators
to show their team support Handy horn – a portable or personal horn
similar to the vuvuzela Thundersticks – narrow plastic balloons
that are used as promotional noise makers References
External links 10 Things about the Vuvuzela by the BBC
Promotional film for World Cup Mexico 86 – Mexican plastic trumpets are shown – YouTube
Vuvuzela Day – slideshow by The First Post Moriarty, Philip. "Vuvuzela". Sixty Symbols.
Brady Haran for the University of Nottingham.