I live in South Africa and hate the noise of the vuvuzela. It's harsh, strident, unpleasant, annoying... need I go on? To make matters worse, it's only been around in its current form for a couple of years. These things now seem imbedded in popular culture and aren't just restricted to soccer matches – they can show up anywhere at any time. There are so many other ways in which people can make their support for their teams known, some very African. If only the vuvuzela hadn't become one of them.

A Vuvuzela is a uniquely South African trumpet that is played before, during and after soccer games in the country. I am a South African, a soccer fan and I just love Vuvuzela. The noise it makes is not irritating; it encourages players to do more in the field of play. A lot of people who complain about Vuvuzela are those who don’t like South African and indeed African soccer. They watched the recent soccer matches only because it involved in particular European nations. For the 2010 Fifa World Cup to be a uniquely South African soccer experience it must involve the Vuvuzela. We know that our brothers from around the African continent are going to come with their drums and other horns that are used in soccer games. To all these we say a WELCOME. Our noise making tools are what will make the 2010 Fifa World Cup to be a truly African spectacle. They provide added flavor to the flair that the African soccer players display on the field of play. In Africa we celebrate the game of soccer as a whole. That is why you will find Vuvuzela’s, drums etc being played even before the game starts. Welcome to our world…

What? you see other annoying millions and agree that it's annoying and then do it yourself?

Thanks for nothing.

These things aren't new: I used have two or three of them as a kid that I would take with me to Leafs games. You can still hear them nowadays, although they're not as common as an airhorn.

We're afficionados (sp?) of futbol and watch a lot of the games of the FIFA, especially Honduras since we have roots there. I had to laugh when they mentioned that the president of the FIFA is going to discuss banning the vuvuzelas. That's what happens when old, rich codgers run things. They get old and cranky and used to power. Banning that would be like banning singing and chanting at the games, its an intrinsic and inseparable part of the atmosphere of a soccer game. There's enough dirty play, exaggerating, and arbitration that goes on during a good soccer game so please let's not add to it by taking something away from the fans that's their right. Distracting? Too bad! It wasn't distracting when the Twins won the world series and the Metrodome was louder than a 747 jet? Are they going to ban voices next? If it ain't broke don't fix it. Thanks.

This is by far the most ridiculous and annoying thing I have ever heard of. I will be watching all world cup games with the sound on "mute". Hopefully, "in a moment of clarity" Mr. Blatter will suspend his love affair for S. Africa and ban them at all games except those in which the host play at. Go ahead and scream, sing, whatever. But artifical noisemakers? noooo, please.

Well, the vuvuzelas or whatever they call it are a lot more than just annoying. They can spoil the game for watchers.

All I kept thinking while watching the Confed games was that this stupid and useless din will be ever present at the World Cup.
If broadcasters don't turn down the mics in the stadium I'll have to resort to turning off the sound on the T.V. Something advertisers will love!

I know what you mean! I watched the matches on TV and it was really annoying! I hope they get banned from World Cup or I'll have to watch the matches with my TV on mute.

It's the most irritating sound and it probably makes everyone around deaf, unless they're wearing some really powerful earplugs. It's like being imprisoned in a giant beehive or something. Forget it! I'm one soccer fan who's NOT going to South Africa...

Give me Brazilian samba drums anytime!

its true vuvuzela can be annoying if u r not used to it but here in South Africa there's no football match without vuvuzela.
It will be easier to tell the fans not to go a stadium than to go without vuvuzela

Perhaps I should take responsibility on behalf of all South African sports fanatics and apologize to whoever was offended by our Vuvuzelas. We didn't mean to be ourselves. Henceforth we'll try to do everything more European and less barbaric so that everyone can be happy. How's that?

When you're a visitor in another country, should you really be imposing all your opinions about their customs? Oh wait, White tribes have been doing that for hundreds of years already. By the way, do you want souvenir slave shackles to bring home with you from your African travels?

Come on, folks, haven't we done enough for you? We've learned your language to accommodate you, and we've dressed ourselves in your stupid penguin suits. I'm glad we gave you a story to tell; we've provided you with writing material for yet another frivolous complaint. Just let us have our damn Vuvuzelas already! Hola makhala njalo!

i have one, it ROCKS!!!

We r proudly & loudly south africans. Vuvuzela is our music at stadiums & part of our celebration & enjoyment of soccer. A game without vuvuzela is not a game, period!

This damned horn is very irritating and should be banned.
How can one concentrate on the game with that piece of plastic blaring all the time.
Bad wastage of plastic anyway.
As they say small things amuses very small minds.

Hi

I am a proud South African and at first agreed that this instrument should be banned. I realised quickly thereafter that this is what the locals have been doing for decades when going to a soccer game. Its our game now, our country. If anyone has an issue, be it fans or players..... you just got to deal with it.

I attended all the games at Ellis Park (Johannesburg) and Loftus (Pretoria) and atmosphere was simply electric. I have never seen anything like it. We watch english football on TV but it cannot compare to this. The vibe is just awesome.

This is our counrty, our world cup..... I agree, just join us.... its addictive.

Everybody here is South Africa hated the vuvuzela at some stage, the best medicine is to get one and start blowing. You just need a small lesson in the beginning then off you go. I gaurantee you coming to the stadium without one you will resent the noise and the fans blowing. That's is definatly our way we watch soccer, we like it like that. If I can't shout the loudest the vuvuzela helps me do that...
P Sithole. South Africa

I love them!!! Makes South Africa unique.

In some countries the fans shoot off flares, in others they play drums, in others they have bands at the matches, and in others they sing songs – in South Africa we blow vuvuzelas. Why the fuss – relax and enjoy the moment.

Mike
Benoni (Charleze Theron's birth place)
South Africa

Hi

"Annoying" is an understatement. I have to say that I absolutely hate the vuvuzela – purely because of the frightening noise it makes. I spent very little time watching the recent Confed Cup games BECAUSE of the constant noise, and the fact that a lot of the games were commentated on in a language other than English, most likely Zulu or Xhosa or something like that. One can only imagine what those soccer players went through. Players like Kaka and Fabiano (worth millions of rands/dollars/pounds!!!!) must've been beside themselves when they first heard this noise. I shudder to think what that noise will sound like at Soccer City, which is very clearly visible and a mere 2km's from my home. I'll take solace in the fireworks display!

I hope that feedback from the players and managers will suggest that the use of vuvuzelas be prohibited from next year's World Cup.

it is actually ruining the game, you think of a football match as a gathering of noisy fans, not to a monotone awkward voices coming from all with a single annoying tone... anyway, the worldcup 2010 will be such a failure, not because it's held in Africa, but because it is held in South Africa!

The horns are terrible & very distracting from watching the game. Should be banned.

The noise is terrible & disturbing. Let them sing to high heaven instead.

I am a proudly "white" South African and must say I adore the Vuvuzela – I went and watched the Final Federation Cup here in my home town Johannesburg and with all the bad publicity (especially form outside South Africa) I was preparing myself for a unpleasant evening at the match because of the "Vuvuzela" – Well to my surprise it was Awesome – the sound was not so bad and the vibe the sound created by the "Horn of Africa" was amazing!!! Poeple were chearing to the beat of the Vuvuzela and making movements with their hands and the vuvuzela's. I do think the sound, sounds worse watching the match from home.

I also noticed more white people blowing the vuvuzela and enjoying the "horn" .... you go South Africanans!!! Can't believe the press are saying it's a "non-white" thing. I was so disappointed that I didn't have a Vuvuzela!!!!!

Proudly white Afrikaans South African!!!!!

As a South African citizen, i cannot stand that Vuvuzela, but it seems i am part of the minority, so i would have to put up or shut up.

Im my personal opinion, i think it leaves a very 3rd world primitaive touch to the greatest event in the history of our beautiful country.

Don't encourage them!!! Ban those dumb horns next year!

The only way to watch a game being played in South Africa is with the mute on.

The thing is South Africa actually has great football songs and does not need the plastic horn:

http://www.footballiscominghome.net/video/the-vuvuzela-conspiracy/