Vuvuzela
A modern plastic Vuvuzela
Brass instrument
Classification

Brass[1]

Hornbostel–Sachs classification423.121.22
(Tubular end-blown trumpet with mouthpiece)
Playing range
Varies by instrument, typically around B♭
Related instruments
Bugle

The vuvuzela /vuːvuːˈzɛlə/ is a horn, with an inexpensive injection-moulded plastic shell about 65 centimetres (2 ft) long, which produces a loud monotone note, typically around B♭ 3[2] (the first B♭ below middle C).[3] Some models are made in two parts to facilitate storage, and this design also allows pitch variation. Many types of vuvuzela, made by several manufacturers, may produce various intensity and frequency outputs.[4] The intensity of these outputs depends on the blowing technique and pressure exerted.[4] The indoor noise level caused the U.S. NCAA to permanently ban them after the February 7, 1987 Division I Men's Ice Hockey game between Brown University at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. The noise was so extreme from the 2 ft long cherry-red plastic horns that Brown formally complained and "The RPI Rule" was universally adopted.[5][6][7][8]

The vuvuzela is commonly used at football matches in South Africa,[9] and it has become a symbol of South African football as the stadiums are filled with its sound.[10] The intensity of the sound caught the attention of the global football community during the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup in anticipation of South Africa hosting the 2010 FIFA World Cup.[10]

The vuvuzela has been the subject of controversy when used by spectators at football matches. Its high volume can lead to permanent hearing loss for unprotected ears after close-range exposure,[11] with a sound level of 120 dB(A) (the threshold of pain) at one metre (3.3 ft) from the device opening.[10]

Origin

"The Dinner Horn" ("Blowing the Horn at Seaside"), by Winslow Homer, 1870

Plastic aerophones, like corneta and similar devices, have been used in Brazil and other Latin American countries since the 1960s, also similar "Stadium Horns" have been marketed and available in the United States since that same date.[12]

Similar horns have been in existence for much longer. An instrument that looks like a vuvuzela appears in Winslow Homer's 1870 painting "The Dinner Horn".[13]

The origin of the device is disputed. The term vuvuzela was first used in South Africa from the Zulu language or from a Nguni language. It is also known in the Sepedi language as Lepatata; a Bokoni dialect word meaning to make a blowing sound (directly translated: ukuvuvuzela).

Controversies over the invention arose in early 2010. South African Kaizer Chiefs fan Freddie "Saddam" Maake claimed the invention of the vuvuzela by fabricating an aluminium version in 1965 from a bicycle horn and has photographic evidence of himself holding the aluminium vuvuzela in the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s.[14] He also claimed to have coined vuvuzela from the Zulu language for "welcome", "unite" and "celebration".[15] Plastics factory Masincedane Sport popularised the ubiquitous plastic vuvuzela commonly heard at South African football games in 2002;[16] and the Nazareth Baptist Church claimed the vuvuzela belonged to their church.[17]

International tournaments

A 2010 FIFA World Cup crowd blowing vuvuzelas

The world association football governing body, FIFA, proposed banning vuvuzelas from stadiums, as they were seen as potential weapons for hooligans and could be used in ambush marketing. Columnist Jon Qwelane described the device as "an instrument from hell".[18] South African football authorities argued that the vuvuzela was part of the South African football experience.[19] The Spanish midfielder Xabi Alonso said, "Those trumpets? That noise I don't like ... FIFA must ban those things ... it is not nice to have a noise like that".[20] Dutch coach Bert van Marwijk remarked, "... it was annoying ... in the stadiums you get used to it but it is still unpleasant".[21]

Commentator Farayi Mungazi said, "Banning the vuvuzela would take away the distinctiveness of a South African World Cup ... absolutely essential for an authentic South African footballing experience".[22] FIFA President Sepp Blatter responded, "we should not try to Europeanise an African World Cup ... that is what African and South Africa football is all about – noise, excitement, dancing, shouting and enjoyment".[22][21] Despite the criticisms, FIFA agreed to permit their use in stadiums during the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup and 2010 FIFA World Cup.[23] The South African football authority argued that during FIFA World Cup 2010, vuvuzelas achieved great popularity, though TV spectators suffered a lot due to vuvuzela noise pollution.[21]

2010 FIFA World Cup

Marketing

Hyundai constructed the world's largest working vuvuzela as part of a marketing campaign for the World Cup. The 35-metre (115 ft) blue vuvuzela mounted on the Foreshore Freeway Bridge, Cape Town, was intended to be used at the beginning of each match; however, it did not sound a note during the World Cup, as its volume was a cause of concern to city authorities.[24]

Reception

Its ubiquity led to many suggestions for limiting its use, muffling its sound, and even an outright ban.[25][26]

Broadcasting organisations experienced difficulties with their presentations. Television and radio audiences often heard only the sound of vuvuzelas.[27][28][29][30] The BBC, RTÉ, ESPN and BSkyB have examined the possibility of filtering the ambient noise while maintaining game commentary.[27][28]

The vuvuzelas raised health and safety concerns. Competitors believed the incessant noise hampered the ability of the players to get their rest, and degraded the quality of team performance.[31][32] Other critics remarked that vuvuzelas disrupted team communication and players' concentration during matches.[33][34] Demand for earplugs to protect from hearing loss during the World Cup outstripped supply, with many pharmacies out of stock.[35] One major vuvuzela manufacturer even began selling its own earplugs to spectators.[36]

Audio filtration

Notch filtering, an audio filtration technique, is proposed to reduce the vuvuzela sound in broadcasts and increase clarity of commentary audio. The vuvuzela produces notes at a frequency of approximately 235 Hz and its first partial at 465 Hz.[37] However, this filtration technique affects the clarity of commentary audio. Proposals of adaptive filters by universities and research organisations address this issue by preserving the amplitude and clarity of the commentators' voices and crowd noise.[38][39][40] Such filtration techniques have been adopted by some cable television providers.[41]

2018 FIFA World Cup

Vuvuzelas made a comeback at the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia, used mainly by Iranian supporters.[42] Much like in 2010, there was a backlash against their use.[43][44]

Health effects and regulation

Health concerns

Some vuvuzelas carry a safety warning graphic.

A study conducted in 2010 by Ruth McNerney of the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine and colleagues, concluded that the airborne transmission of diseases by means of vuvuzelas was possible.[45][46] They measured tiny droplets emitted from a vuvuzela that can carry flu and cold germs that are small enough to stay suspended in the air for hours, and can enter into the airways of a person's lungs.[47] The study concluded that vuvuzelas can infect others on a greater scale than coughing or shouting.[47]

The vuvuzelas have the potential to cause noise-induced hearing loss.[4][10][11][45] Prof James Hall III, Dirk Koekemoer, De Wet Swanepoel and colleagues at the University of Pretoria found that vuvuzelas can have a negative effect when a listener's eardrums are exposed to the instrument's high-intensity sound. The vuvuzelas produce an average sound pressure of 113 dB(A) at two metres (7 ft) from the device opening.[10] The study finds that subjects should not be exposed to more than 15 minutes per day at an intensity of 100 dB(A).[10] The study assumes that if a single vuvuzela emits a sound that is dangerously loud to subjects within a two-metre (7 ft) radius, and numerous vuvuzelas are typically blown together for the duration of a match, it may put spectators at a significant risk of hearing loss.[10] Hearing loss experts at the U.S. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) recommend that exposure at the 113 dB(A) level not exceed 45 seconds per day.[48] A newer model has a modified mouthpiece that reduces the volume by 20 dB.[49]

Noise levels and bans

Wesley Sneijder blowing on a vuvuzela

Some shopping centres in South Africa banned the use of vuvuzelas.[72][73][74] They were also banned at the 2010 Baltimore anime convention Otakon.[75] The convention committee declared that any attendee carrying a vuvuzela could have it confiscated from them, and that anyone blowing one could face expulsion from the event.[75][76]

Another such action was taken in response to the prevalence of the vuvuzelas at the 2010 Anime Expo based in Los Angeles, attended by representatives of Otakon who felt the disruption led to discomfort for some of the attendees of Anime Expo which they wished to avoid at the later Baltimore event.[76]

Nine English Premier League clubs have banned the device. Five clubs (Arsenal,[77] Birmingham City, Everton, Fulham and Liverpool) have banned them due to health and safety reasons while Sunderland, West Ham United, and West Bromwich Albion have barred them because of policy against musical instruments. Manchester United banned vuvuzelas from Old Trafford on 13 August 2010. However, two clubs (Manchester City and Stoke City) have allowed them.

The organisers of the 2012 Olympic Games placed a ban on vuvuzelas at the sporting event.[78]

Usage in protests

On 13 July 2010, protesters with vuvuzelas converged on BP's London headquarters to protest the company's handling of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.[79]

Vuvuzelas were widely used during the 2011 Wisconsin pro-union protests against governor Scott Walker, after a Madison DJ, Nick Nice, ordered 200 of them and distributed them to his fellow protesters.[80] According to Nice, this caused vuvuzelas to be included in the list of items banned at the state's capitol.[80] The list does not specifically mention vuvuzelas, but does include "Musical Instrument/noise makers".[81]

In March 2012, German protesters used vuvuzelas during the official traditional torchlight ceremony, the Großer Zapfenstreich, which bid farewell to President of Germany Christian Wulff. Wulff had resigned earlier over corruption allegations, yet he still received the honour of the military ceremony, which left Germany divided.[82]

Usage in music

Usage of vuvuzela in art music is limited. One of the few compositions made for it is a baroque-style double concerto in C major for vuvuzela, organ (or harpsichord) and string orchestra, written by Timo Kiiskinen, Professor of Church Music in Sibelius Academy, Helsinki; organ version of this concerto was premiered on 21 October 2010 at the Organ Hall of Sibelius Academy, and harpsichord version on 19 December 2010 at Pro Puu gallery in Lahti.[83][84]

John-Luke Mark Matthews has written a concerto in B-flat major for vuvuzela and orchestra. The score and parts for this are available on the IMSLP public-domain score library.[85]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "VUVUZELA – Definition and synonyms of vuvuzela in the English dictionary". educalingo.com. Retrieved 28 April 2022.
  2. ↑ "10 things about the vuvuzela". BBC News. 15 June 2010.
  3. ↑ "Trumping the trumpets: how audio engineering helps tone down vuvuzela disruption" (Press release). Queen Mary College University of London. 18 June 2010.
  4. 1 2 3 Swanepoel, De Wet; Hall III, James W; Koekemoer, Dirk (April 2010). "Vuvuzela sound measurements". South African Medical Journal. Cape Town, South Africa. 100 (4): 192. doi:10.7196/samj.4098. hdl:2263/14802. PMID 20459951.
  5. 1 2 "The Big Red Freakout: An RPI Hockey Tradition | Institute Archives and Special Collections". archives.rpi.edu. Retrieved 22 September 2023.
  6. 1 2 Graves, Matt (3 February 2016). "A brief history of RPI hockey's 'Big Red Freakout'". Times Union. Retrieved 22 September 2023.
  7. 1 2 Myers, Jess. "Great Traditions in Collage Hockey". USA Hockey Magazine.
  8. 1 2 "Special Games | RPI Hockey". sports-chronicles.com. Retrieved 22 September 2023.
  9. ↑ "V is for Vuvuzela". Fédération Internationale de Football Association. Archived from the original on 14 June 2007. Retrieved 9 September 2008.
  10. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Swanepoel, De Wet; Hall III, James W; Koekemoer, Dirk (February 2010). "Vuvuzela – good for your team, bad for your ears" (PDF). South African Medical Journal. Cape Town, South Africa. 100 (4): 99–100. doi:10.7196/samj.3697. PMID 20459912.
  11. 1 2 Swanepoel, D Wet; Hall III, James W (April 2010). "Football match spectator sound exposure and effect on hearing: A pretest-post-test study". South African Medical Journal. Cape Town, South Africa. 100 (4): 239–42. doi:10.7196/samj.4091. hdl:2263/14150. PMID 20459971.
  12. ↑ Ken Burns (27 September 1994). "8th Inning – A Whole New Ballgame". Baseball. Season 1. 82 minutes in. PBS. at 1:22:12, crowd shot of Fenway Park. In the upper left corner of the frame, two mass-produced type plastic Stadium Horns/Vuvuzelas are clearly visible.
  13. ↑ "The Dinner Horn". Brooklyn Museum of Art. 1870.
  14. ↑ Moyo, Phathisani (8 January 2010). "Vuvuzela creator blown off?". Mail & Guardian. South Africa.
  15. ↑ Maake, Freddie (10 July 2010). "Experience: I invented the vuvuzela". The Guardian. London.
  16. ↑ Casert, Raf (18 June 2010). "Vuvuzela innovator cashes in on success at WCup". Yahoo! Inc. Associated Press. Archived from the original on 22 June 2010.
  17. ↑ Fisher, Jonah (16 January 2010). "Unholy row over World Cup trumpet". BBC News. Retrieved 16 January 2010.
  18. ↑ Qwelane, Jon (7 February 2005). "Ban the vuvuzela". News24. South Africa: 24.com.
  19. ↑ Makhaye, Chris (13 July 2008). "Blasts of joy as vuvuzelas unbanned". IOL. Archived from the original on 20 July 2010. Retrieved 8 September 2008.
  20. ↑ "Ban the noisy vuvuzela, says Alonso". Cape Argus. Cape Argus & Independent Online. 18 June 2009.
  21. 1 2 3 "Dutch coach joins chorus to ban vuvuzela". ESPNsoccernet. Reuters. 20 June 2009. Archived from the original on 29 January 2012. Retrieved 20 June 2009.
  22. 1 2 Mungazi, Farayi (19 June 2009). "In defence of the vuvuzela". BBC Sport. Retrieved 14 June 2010.
  23. ↑ "Fifa gives Vuvuzelas thumbs up". News24. South Africa: 24.com. South African Press Association. 11 July 2008.
  24. ↑ Hudson, Alexandra (18 June 2010). "Giant vuvuzela waits for council go-ahead to toot". Thomson Reuters Corporate. Reuters Africa. Archived from the original on 23 July 2010. Retrieved 19 June 2010.
  25. ↑ Schy, Steve (14 June 2010). "Noisy Vuvuzelas Cause Concern at World Cup". Washington, D.C., United States of America: Voice of America. Retrieved 18 June 2010.
  26. ↑ "Organizers consider silencing vuvuzelas". ESPNsoccernet. Archived from the original on 16 June 2010. Retrieved 14 June 2010.
  27. 1 2 "BBC receives 545 vuvuzela complaints over World Cup". BBC News. 15 June 2010. Retrieved 15 June 2010.
  28. 1 2 "Host broadcasters to 'filter' noise". ESPNsoccernet. Associated Press. 15 June 2010. Archived from the original on 18 June 2010. Retrieved 15 June 2010.
  29. ↑ "BBC mulls vuvuzela-free option for irked viewers". Yahoo! Inc. Associated Press. 15 June 2010. Archived from the original on 15 December 2012. Retrieved 17 June 2010.
  30. ↑ Valenti, Elio (13 June 2010). "Buzz off, vuvuzelas!". New York Post. NYP Holdings, Inc.
  31. ↑ "World Cup 2010: Organisers will not ban vuvuzelas". BBC Sport. 13 June 2010. Retrieved 13 June 2010.
  32. ↑ "World Cup organiser mulls vuvuzela ban". Agence France-Presse. 13 June 2010. Retrieved 13 June 2010.
  33. ↑ "It is impossible to communicate, it's like being deaf: Messi". The Hindu. Deutsche Presse-Agentur. Retrieved 13 June 2010.
  34. ↑ "Ronaldo hits out at vuvuzelas". Radio Nederland Wereldomroep. Netherlands National News, Agence France-Presse. Archived from the original on 17 June 2010. Retrieved 13 June 2010.
  35. ↑ Chilwane, Luphert (11 June 2010). "Worried fans right to seek ear plugs, says Phonak". Business Day. South Africa: BDFM Publishers. Retrieved 15 June 2010.
  36. ↑ "Vuvuzelas unplugged for some". Sport24. South Africa: 24.com. 11 June 2010. Archived from the original on 22 July 2011.
  37. ↑ Pash, Adam (15 June 2010). "How to Silence Vuvuzela Horns in World Cup Broadcasts". Lifehacker. Gawker Media. Retrieved 17 June 2010.
  38. ↑ "Trumping the trumpets: how audio engineering helps tone down vuvuzela disruption". Centre for Digital Music (Press release). Queen Mary University of London. 18 June 2010. Retrieved 21 June 2010.
  39. ↑ "Prosoniq VuvuX". Prosoniq Products Software GmbH. Retrieved 21 June 2010.
  40. ↑ Bargmann, Jeff; University of London, Queen Mary. "The Devuvuzelator". Stardock Corporation. Archived from the original on 23 June 2010. Retrieved 21 June 2010.
  41. ↑ Ballve, Marcelo (17 June 2010). "Portuguese cable provider offers vuvuzela muting service for World Cup games". True/Slant. Archived from the original on 4 October 2012. Retrieved 25 June 2010.
  42. ↑ "Five things we learned as vuvuzelas fail to drown out late Iran goal". The Independent. 15 June 2018.
  43. ↑ "Vuvuzelas are back at the World Cup and people are fuming". i (newspaper). 16 June 2018. Retrieved 21 June 2018.
  44. ↑ Krishna, Shyam A. (21 June 2018). "Vuvuzelas: I hate them, but they are back". Archived from the original on 22 June 2018. Retrieved 21 June 2018.
  45. 1 2 Snyman, Mia (10 June 2010). "Study: Vuvuzela could spread colds and flu". The Boston Globe. Associated Press. Retrieved 16 November 2015.
  46. ↑ Brian Mossop (24 May 2011). "Besides Noise, Vuvuzelas May Spread Airborne Germs". Wired.
  47. 1 2 Lai, Ka-Man; Bottomley, Christian; McNerney, Ruth (23 May 2011). "Propagation of Respiratory Aerosols by the Vuvuzela". PLOS One. 6 (5): e20086. Bibcode:2011PLoSO...620086L. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0020086. ISSN 1932-6203. PMC 3100331. PMID 21629778.
  48. ↑ "CDC/NIOSH Science Blog – Vuvuzelas: What's the Buzz? June 2010". NIOSH. cdc.com. June 2010.
  49. ↑ "New vuvuzelas turn down volume". Sport24. South Africa: 24.com. 14 June 2010. Archived from the original on 22 February 2014. Retrieved 14 June 2010.
  50. ↑ "Rules & Regulations". Wembley Stadium. Retrieved 9 July 2020.
  51. ↑ Simpson, Connor (4 June 2014). "Wooomp: FIFA Bans Vuvuzelas from Brazilian World Cup". The Atlantic. Retrieved 21 June 2018.
  52. ↑ "2018 World Cup: Roll up for 'obese person' tickets". Retrieved 21 June 2018.
  53. ↑ "Sports fans in Cardiff spared vuvuzela". BBC Sport. 18 June 2010. Retrieved 19 June 2010.
  54. ↑ Summers, Chris (16 June 2010). "Wimbledon crackdown on vuvuzelas". BBC Sport. Retrieved 19 June 2010.
  55. ↑ Elkes, Neil (9 July 2010). "Call to ban vuvuzelas at Edgbaston". Retrieved 21 June 2018.
  56. ↑ Doherty, Elissa (17 June 2010). "Vuvu gets big no-no from AFL". Herald Sun. Retrieved 19 June 2010.
  57. ↑ "Ground Entry Conditions — WACA Western Australia Cricket Association". waca.com.au. Archived from the original on 21 June 2018. Retrieved 21 June 2018.
  58. ↑ "Chant like England's Barmy Army". The Courier-Mail. 23 November 2017.
  59. ↑ "Attending the ODI between Australia and India at the SCG". Retrieved 21 June 2018.
  60. ↑ Marks, Vic; Wilson, Andy; Smyth, Rob (8 September 2010). "County cricket — as it happened! — Andy Wilson, Rob Smyth and Vic Marks". The Guardian. Retrieved 21 June 2018.
  61. ↑ "Vuvuzelas BANNED From Yankee Stadium". HuffPost. 17 June 2010. Retrieved 19 June 2010.
  62. ↑ "ブブゼラの持ち込み及び使用禁止のお願い". FujiRockFestival.com. SMASH Corporation. 15 July 2010.
  63. ↑ Kristi E. Swartz. "SEC: leave your vuvuzelas at home". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved 5 July 2010.
  64. ↑ "No Vuvuzelas allowed at UFC card". ESPN. Associated Press. 30 June 2010.
  65. ↑ "GAA bans vuvuzelas before they blow away the Croke Park atmosphere – The Irish Times – Fri, Jun 18, 2010". The Irish Times. 18 June 2010. Retrieved 14 September 2010.
  66. ↑ "Prohibited List". Retrieved 23 July 2022.
  67. ↑ "Guest Guide". Portland Timbers. Archived from the original on 27 January 2011. Retrieved 3 March 2011.
  68. ↑ UEFA Enacts Vuvuzelas Ban, ESPN, 1 September 2010
  69. ↑ "No vuvuzelas at RWC 2011". SARugby.com. 29 June 2010. Archived from the original on 3 July 2010.
  70. ↑ КХЛ налагает запрет на использование вувузел (in Russian). Kontinental Hockey League. 23 July 2010. Retrieved 23 July 2010.
  71. ↑ "Pasaulio krepšinio čempionate vuvuzelų negirdėsime – DELFI Žinios". Delfi (web portal). Retrieved 14 September 2010.
  72. ↑ Child, Katharine (12 June 2010). "No vuvuzelas inside Sandton City". Eyewitness News. Primedia Broadcasting. Archived from the original on 6 October 2011.
  73. ↑ Dardagan, Colleen (16 June 2010). "Shopping mall silences vuvuzela". IOL. South African Press Association.
  74. ↑ Fengu, Msindisi (18 June 2010). "Vuvuzelas get red card in malls". Daily Dispatch. Avusa Media Limited.
  75. 1 2 Lou, Arruda (11 July 2010). "Vuvuzela ban in effect". Otakon.com. Archived from the original on 13 July 2010. Retrieved 15 July 2010.
  76. 1 2 "No Vuvuzelas at Otakon". Anime News Network. 14 July 2010.
  77. ↑ "Vuvuzelas not welcome at Emirates Stadium!". Arsenal F.C. 20 July 2010. Retrieved 14 September 2010.
  78. ↑ "No frisbees, picnic hampers or vuvuzelas: items banned from the London 2012 Olympics". BBC News. 12 July 2012. Retrieved 30 August 2012.
  79. ↑ "Vuvuzela protest planned at BP HQ". CNN. 13 July 2010.
  80. 1 2 Knutsen, Kristian (12 May 2011). "The New Activists: The Mixer, Nick Nice". Isthmus | Madison, Wisconsin. Retrieved 10 November 2020.
  81. ↑ Department of Administration, State of Wisconsin. "Items Prohibited in Wisconsin State Capitol". doa.wi.gov. Retrieved 4 September 2023.
  82. ↑ "Tröten beim Zapfenstreich: Bellevue beschwert sich über Vuvuzela-Demo – DER SPIEGEL – Politik". Der Spiegel (in German). 9 March 2012. Retrieved 10 November 2020.
  83. ↑ https://cris.uniarts.fi/crisyp/disp/_/fi/cr_redir_all/fet/fet/sea?direction=2&id=3477372 (in Finnish)
  84. ↑ "Barokkiyhtyeen joulukonsertissa soi vuvuzela". Etelä-Suomen sanomat (in Finnish). 16 December 2010.
  85. ↑ "Vuvuzela Concerto by John-Luke Mark Matthews". imslp.org. Retrieved 24 January 2021.
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