Vuvuzela means 'kudu horn'. In the traditional communities, this horn is blown to signal the men to come join a meeting or show the start of a war or let the men know to be alert, a war is starting.
The vuvuzela is not curved like the kuduzela and a lot of soccer fans does not know the kuduzela, but only knows the vuvuzela. Because the kuduzela is curved, it can make more than one sound. It will take a while before the people get use to the kuduzela.
A lot of fans know the vuvuzela and you are maybe one of those who have tried to blow one - maybe with some success.
Some people get it right the first time and some struggle to get any sound out of it.
How to blow a vuvuzela
- Close your lips and put it against the vuvuzela's opening
- Blow as hard as you can and open your lips a little in the middle to let the air vibrate out of your mouth.
This sounds easy enough, but it is not. You will start turning blue in the face, you will sound like a dying cow, you will make the neighbors cat run away and the dogs will start howling.
Your lips will feel numb and most probably start bleeding, you would want to give up, but do not. One or other time you will hear a sound come out.
When your family is screaming at you and threatens to throw you out of the house, then you know you are ready to take your vuvuzela to the soccer stadium.
Other uses of a vuvuzela
You can leave it in your car for everybody to see that you are a soccer supporter and if you are stuck next to the road without petrol, you can use it as a funnel to pour the petrol into the car. Just remember to wash it again before you use it or you will 'enjoy' more than just the sound coming out .....
The noise level of one vuvuzela is the same as that of a gun shot and if there are thousands of fans blowing on their vuvuzelas at the soccer, it can be the same noise level of 60 mirages taking off from the runway.
So you will understand why it is a good thing to use some ear plugs when you are going there.
Answer the following questions
- Explain in your own words how to play a vuvuzela.
- What is the difference between a kuduzela and a vuvuzela?
- What will happen in the beginning if you try and blow on a vuvuzela?
- How will you know you are ready to go to the soccer stadium?
- Name other uses for the vuvuzela. Can you think of any other uses?
- Find a video of a kudu horn being blown by a member of a traditional community.
For enrichment you can read more on the history of the vuvuzela https://www.brandsouthafrica.com/people-culture/sport/2010/vuvuzela
Would you like to make a home-made vuvuzela? Watch the video and try and make your own - try not to drive your parents up the walls. ☺☺☺
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