Do you want to buy a vuvuzela for just €4?

The vuvuzela is currently the most talked about musical instrument, sold on eBay for prices starting from just €4. The reason why? It is dominating this year’s World Cup! Its notorious loud “sound”, by many viewed as simply a buzzing and irritating noise is creating much havoc and controversy.

It surely needs no introduction, but to simplify matters, a vuvuzela is simply a cheap, plastic and monotone trumpet. It has itself become as popular as the teams playing in the World Cup. But from where did it originate? No, it’s not from Africa as probably most of you have just thought. 

It originated in Mexico during the 70s, but yes, its popularity increased during the 90s thanks to South Africa and its love for loud, tribal sounds.  Although are many those who have been complaining to its annoying noise, those on its defense are simply saying that the vuvuzela is part of Africa’s culture, and taking it away would just be a matter of Europeanization.

Funnily enough, amidst of all this complaining, the vuvuzela became so popular that even before the World Cup opened, 650,000 were already sold. It is also dominating eBay and Amazon online sales. Vuvuzelas come in every size and colour which one can imagine. And to make them even more “worth it”, wigs and flags of the different participating teams are being sold as a package!

Controversies regarding the vuvuzelas do not rotate just around its buzzing voice. They stretch further to health and safety issues. It has been associated with permanent noise-induced hearing loss and may spread cold and flu viruses on a greater scale than coughing, sneezing or shouting. Safety issues include spectators who would not be able to hear evacuation announcements.  Vuvuzelas have also been blamed for drowning the sound and atmosphere of football games. TV viewers have complained that the vuvuzelas are drowning the commentators’ voices.

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