- Vuvuzela
A vuvuzela, sometimes called a 'lepatata' (its
Setswana name), is anair horn , approximately one metre in length, commonly blown by fans at soccer matches in South Africa. The origin of the name is disputed; it may originate from the Zulu for "making noise", or from the "vuvu" sound it makes, or from township slang related to the word for "shower".cite web|url=http://www.southafrica.info/2010/vuvuzela.htm|title=Vuvuzela: SA football's beautiful noise|publisher=SouthAfrica.info|accessdate=2008-09-09]Originally made out of tin, the vuvuzela became popular in South Africa in the 1990s, and in 2001 a local company, Masincedane Sport, began to mass-produce it in plastic.cite web|url=http://www.boogieblast.co.za/|title=The Boogieblast Vuvuzela|accessdate=2008-09-09] They require some lip and lung strength to blow, and emit a monotonous noise something like a deep foghorn or an elephant.cite web|url=http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/destination/southafricafromatoz/letter=v/index.html|title=V is for Vuvuzela|publisher=FIFA|accessdate=2008-09-09] The vuvuzela is a feature of matches between big South African soccer teams
Kaizer Chiefs andOrlando Pirates . The Chiefs supporters have yellow vuvuzelas while the Pirates have black-and-white vuvuzelas.Vuvuzelas have been controversial because of the loud noise they create, and have sometimes been banned from stadiums. [cite news|url=http://www.news24.com/News24/Columnists/Jon_Qwelane/0,,2-1630-1633_1658589,00.html|first=Jon|last=Qwelane|date=2005-07-02|publisher=News24|title='Ban the Vuvuzela'] [cite news|url=http://www.sabcnews.com/sport/soccer/0,2172,86901,00.html|title=Soccer league protests Vuvuzela ban at rugby matches|publisher=SABC|date=2005-08-31] However, they will be allowed at matches during the
World Cup 2010 in South Africa. [cite news|url=http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=6&click_id=2871&art_id=vn20080713120228203C272609|title=Blasts of joy as vuvuzelas unbanned|date=2008-07-13|first=Chris|last=Makhaye|publisher=IOL]Vuvuzelas are rooted in African history as people would blow on a
kudu horn to call villagers to a meeting. Adding to the appeal is the African folklore that "a baboon is killed by a lot of noise", so the last quarter of a game sees even more frantic blowing of vuvuzelas as supporters try to "kill off" their opponents. [cite news|url=http://www.news24.com/News24/South_Africa/News/0,,2-7-1442_1531226,00.html|title=Vuvuzela here to stay|publisher=News24|date=2004-05-23] [cite web|url=http://www.joburg.org.za/fifaworldcup/content/view/3271/270/|title=Blow the vuvuzela if you’re a fan|date=2008-08-13]References
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