Jun
13
The vuvuzela debate
Filed Under world cup | Leave a Comment
The great vuvuzela debate of the World Cup rages on even after the start of the World Cup, as it has become clear that the traditional African trumpets will be heard at every game, not just the ones involving the home nations.
Many people watching around the world complain they can not stand the noise on their TV, but they have a simple way out – turn down the volume. For the actual fans on the stadium, however, things aren’t so easy, and they have been forced to buy “vuvu-stopper” earplugs. In fact, these accessories have proven so popular that they have been selling out throughout shops all over South Africa, with store owners complaining they don’t have enough stock to meet demand.
Besides being described as annoying, some professionals say the trumpets are dangerous to the ears, as they can produce noise of up to 130 decibels, which is 30 more than the average chainsaw. Which does sound bad.
It’s a debate for which there is no right answer, but personally they do not bother me. No, the vuvuzelas are not exactly something I’d listen to for leisure, but they are unique and bring a lot of flavor to South Africa. It comes with the territory, and I think people can survive listening to them for a few weeks. South Africans have every right to make whatever noise they want at their stadiums, and other countries will get their turn when they host later competitions.