05/08/2009 / SOUTH AFRICA
This is not
a new debate - I created the Facebook group three years ago. I hate the
instrument simply because it's too noisy, too loud. I'd never buy one, even if
it's a traditional instrument. It's only worth drinking a beer through.
Vuvuzela: the trumpet of discontent
Photo posted on Flickr by "El Argentinito".
Around a metre long and able to produce a bellowing and enduring screech, the plastic horn that can be heard at every football match in South Africa is facing extinction after the emergence of a movement to ban it at the 2010 World Cup.
The vuvuleza debate is causing quite a storm both in and outside the football world. FIFA President Sepp Blater has publicly attempted to blow the instrument as a way of showing his support for South Africa's favourite noise-maker. British daily The Guardian however denounced it in publishing Spanish player Xabi Alonso's description of the "trumpet noise" as "unbearable".
The dispute is hotting up online too with both pro and anti groups already on Facebook, one of the latter calling for members to write to FIFA and demand that the horns be banned.
A site has been set up to keep an eye on the developing teams. When the Observers went to press, those voting not to ban the instrument outnumbered their foes by four to one.
A South African fan plays the vuvuzela. Posted on Youtube by "Sebafsud".
Contributors
“It’s only worth drinking a beer through”
Lee Smith runs a software company in Johannesburg. He set up the Facebook group "Ban the Vuvuleza".
This is not
a new debate - I created the Facebook group three years ago. I hate the
instrument simply because it's too noisy, too loud. I'd never buy one, even if
it's a traditional instrument. It's only worth drinking a beer through.
Myself, I was born and raised in South Africa and I can tell you that it's not only non-South Africans who are anti-vuvuzela. I'd say that it's 50-50 in the country. This is not a racial issue either. Some people say it's only white Europeans who hate the South African vuvuzela. That's not true. Just take a look at the members of my anti-vuvuzela group, it's very mixed. Some of my black friends can't stand the vuvuzela either.
I'm going to four games at the World Cup. I'm pretty certain that people are going to play the vuvuzela. I'll try not to complain, as long as nobody blows it in my ear..."
The vuvuzela war online
Photo posted by the "Fuck Spain! Vuvuzuela stays petition!" group. The title refers to Xabi Alonso's comments.
T-shirt sold on this site. (Tommy Smyth is the US's best known football commentator).
On the "How long can you blow me?" site you can test out the vuvuzela for yourself.
»
Sign up via 
The Observers TV show
Observers' Tips
Location
Maps
What we’re working on now...
Most popular
Comments
football ,and its supporters,ie fans
Submitted by Unregistered user.joseph walker (not verified) on Thu, 06/08/2009 - 09:11.Well i was a kid,my teacher said,"Empty Heads make the most sound" He was right.
Unregistered user
re fans
Submitted by Unregistered userjoseph walker (not verified) on Thu, 06/08/2009 - 09:17.This last statement is pratically universal,though there are a few exceptions.ps so not to upset sensitive people.
Unregistered user
vuvuzela for ever
Submitted by Unregistered user (not verified) on Mon, 10/08/2009 - 23:29.anything that is black is bad, weed,,,,is outlawed almost in the whole world yet tabbaco, alcohol allowed thats hipocrsy,,,,,,because a whiteman doesnt lyk it we shloud all live it....it has in South Africa for years.....people started making noise about the vuvuzela when then whiteman came for confederation cup,,,,,are they trying to say that there is nothing a black man can add to this world......if that racist alonso doest lyk it he shouldnt come for world cup,,,,a racist has nothing to add to world of football,,,he refused to an escout because the kid was black/////spanish are known for their open racism they called Eto a monkey and lewis Ham
Unregistered user