In defense of the vuvuzela
Monday, 29 June 09, 06:14 PM · Comments (4)
I tried to go the entire Confederations Cup without writing about it, and I managed to. Tons of people outside of Africa are complaining about the noise produced by the now infamous vuvuzela horns in South Africa. I'm not going to, it doesn't bother me.
It may be because I'm an American, maybe I'm used to artificial stadium noise. Be it fake crowd noise pumped in by the stadium's PA system (I'm looking at you, Indianapolis Colts), those God forsaken thundersticks, or any number of other things. I guess the fake noise makers are almost a neccesity at American sporting events given that you have to have a hedge fund to attend many of them and people with hedge funds tend to not be as loud at sporting events as people without hedge funds, but ticket pricing is another argument for another day. Back on topic, the vuvuzela doesn't bother me.
In fact the vuvuzela hasn't always been a problem in Europe either as this clip from Espana '82 demostrates...
Yes, I know, that was 1982 and times change, but the vuvuzela is actually a big part of South African football, they didn't just break it out for this cup, they're often present at PSL matches.
I know, it's noisy, and most of you aren't used to it, but it's part of their culture and this is their World Cup. It's Africa's first major sporting event, and people should allow them to be themselves at the event. Thus far South Africa has done a good job, the Confederations Cup came off very well and I expect the World Cup will go smoothly. South Africa is a country with many problems, but they're doing the best they can.
Remember, the South Africans never complained about your culture.
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Bobby
Charlotte, US
Random rantings about football
4 Comments · Add yours
Although I agree with you that they aren't a big deal and that westerners need to get over their knee-jerk cultural imperialist attitudes to everything they didn't event and give their blessing to, the vuvuzela is no long-established piece of S. African culture. They've only been around for four or five years and have real significance in the culture as a whole. That said, there's no reason to ban them and I'm happy to see you take that position on the matter.
i agree. if it's part of their soccer/football culture then it belongs in the 2010 world cup. Just as people humming the seven nation army riff belonged in euro 08. although that was much easier on the ears. The world cup is about the sharing of culture's through the sport of soccer/football. banning this would set an unfortunate precedent.
Anybody who wishes the vuvuzela be banned is a cheat and a racist and should be ashamed. Go Africa
I am so happy to read these posts - I have had a day filled with online arguments with people about the vuvuzela. I have a blog where the vuvu features prominently vuvuzelasouthafrica dot coza so please come and chat there as well.