The Vuvuzela is a Chinese Tradition of Mass Production
I object to vuvuzelas because I prefer the more entertaining drunken patriotic songs to a mindless and ear-damaging monotone. And I am irritated with supporters of the vuvuzela at South African soccer matches for this reason: You can’t call blowing a plastic trumpet a South African ‘tradition’ when people the world over have been blowing into horns, made of various materials, since Pan ran around seducing sheep. Also, from what I can gather, in South Africa it only became popular at soccer matches around 2001, but a similar plastic trumpet was already used by Mexican soccer fans in 1986.
Most importantly, 90 percent of South Africa’s vuvuzelas are produced in China, according to China’s state-run Global Times, so it should be called a Chinese Tradition of Mass Production, NOT a South African tradition. I’m sure China thanks you all for your support.
papRika
See also:
Vuvuzela Redemption by Mike Freedman
Vuvuzela deal for Shembe Church
As per usual, I am ambivalent. I also would like to hear the chanting and songs of the football fans, and get irritated with the vuvuzela drowning all this part of footballing culture out.
I went to the Portugal vs ‘Democratic’ Peoples Republic of Korea match. The majority of fans were SA fans of Portugal. It could have been like a Portugal home match, except for the bloody vuvuzelas. Not even the visiting, dinkum Portugal fans could be heard (same with Eng vs Algeria match, although the Algerians made some noise; England fans tried once).
Yet, there’s something about the vuvuzela. And, it is part of SA footballing culture, no matter how recent an entrant in the culture. Culture changes constantly, and it now changes fast. I think we can criticise it as an element of SA footballing culture, but we can’t dispute that it is part of SA footballing culture. The label ‘culture’ does not apply only to (or should not only imply) things the origin of which we consider lost in the mists of time or 100 years ago.
And yes, blowing horns is a fairly universal thing, but the vuvuzela – or the use of the vuvuzela at football – is a uniquely SA cultural thing: it allows even the talentless (those who can’t sing, those who can’t play trumpets) to make a noise and drown those with talent out. ;-)