Vuvuzela

A vuvuzela produces 127 decibels of sound. Rock concerts generally come in around 115 dB.

The vuvuzela is a plastic horn instrument that emits a dull drone, and is inexplicably popular among South African fans at this year’s football World Cup. Traditional vuvuzelas are three feet long, but fans make do with shorter variants too.

Several vuvuzelas blown together sound like bees in a bathroom. Coaches and players have called for a ban on the instrument on the grounds that it drowns out on-field communication between players, makes concentrating difficult, and is generally annoying. Commentators say the drone makes them even more indecipherable, and broadcasters have struggled with tuning out the buzz.

A medical study has shown that vuvuzelas have the potential to propagate airborne lung infections and diseases. According to the doctor who conducted the study, as reported by AP, ‘a lot of breath goes through the vuvuzela’. A doctor at the Department of Communication Pathology at the University of Pretoria added that sharing a vuvuzela was also unwise. A study at the same university found that being exposed to the horn for a period of time affected eardrums. The sound of a vuvuzela has been measured at 127 decibels. In comparison, rock concerts generally come in at 115 dB, pneumatic riveters at 125 dB, and the blast of a jet engine at 140 dB.

The substantial case against the vuvuzela might not be enough to have it banned. Fifa had prohibited it earlier over the concern that the instrument could carry names of sponsors not associated with the tournament. Assured by their South African counterparts that their fears would not be realised, the ban was lifted in 2008. Officials have given it a cultural spin, with Sepp Blatter, the Fifa president, tweeting, ‘…I don’t see banning the music traditions of fans in their own country. Would you want to see a ban on the fan traditions in your country?’

About The Author

Rahul Bhatia