Course:HIST104/ Ninghai Jiying Plastic Vuvuzela

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'''History104: Ninghai Jiying Plastic Vuvuzela'''

ORIGINS OF THE VUVUZELA

The specific origins of the vuvuzela are somewhat difficult to determine because the tradition of using a 'horn' seems to be a widespread cultural practice in numerous communities across Africa. It is commonly believed that the vuvuzela (or kudezela) is actually an altered version of the traditional Kudu horn. Made from the twisted antlers of the Kudu antelope, kudu horns seem to have been used universally (in some capacity or another) across Southern and Eastern Africa - where the Greater and Lesser Kudu antelope can generally be found in the hilly underbrush[1]

The Kudu horn itself is rooted in African history as it was used as a communication device in a variety of different capacities. While it was most commonly used to summon members of a community to village meetings, it was also used to communicate danger (or the threat thereof). For example, an account by Baden-Powell (the creator of the American Scouting movement) asserts that the Matabele peoples used the kudu horn to send coded messages (much like Morris code) during times of war. These messages could then be used to co-ordinate warriors and evacuate settlements that were in danger of being attacked[2].

Samburu boy playing kudu horn.jpg

While most commonly used as a communication device, the Kudu horns also served useful purposes as honey/water containers [3] or, alternatively, the kudu horns (or vuvuzelas)are also used in traditional African music. Contrary to contemporary belief that the vuvuzela only produces noises that are reminiscient of elephants or swarms of bees, the horn can also be used to produce a "very varied melodic line by means of breath control and stopping of the end of the horn" [4]

ETYMOLOGY

Just as there is debate concerning the specific physical origins of the vuvuzela, there is also debate surrounding the etymology of the name ' Vuvuzela '. The most common argument is that the word 'vuvuzela' stems from the isiZulu word 'vuvu' meaning "to make noise", "to welcome", or "to unite"[5]. However, as there are numerous specific names for the horn (depending on which community one is speaking in reference to) is it difficult to argue that one specific name is the original / intended name for the horn.

THE JEWISH TRADITION: ROSH HASHANAH

Another traditional name for the kudu horn is 'shofar' (when made from the kudu horn it is specifically classified as a Yeminite shofar). Shofar's (which make a trumpet-like sound) are said to date back to ancient times when making loud noises was thought to scare off demons; thus ensuring that the blower had a happy start to the coming calendar year. This directly corresponds with South African folklore that states that baboons are killed by a lot of noise - thus, explaining the use of the vuvuzela in warding off potential threats[6].


Shofar's are traditionally used (within the Jewish religion) to annouce the start of holidays, during processions or even to mark the start of war - much like within the African traditions. Most commonly used during the holiday of Rosh HaShanah (or the Jewish New Year), the shofar is sounded one hundred times during the two days of the holiday as a reminder of the importance of reflection upon past actions, repentence of wrongs done and improvement for the coming year.[7]


CONSTRUCTION

While instructions for making traditional African Kudu Horns have not been well documented there is plenty of information regarding the construction of the Yemenite shofar (which is essentially a Kudu Horn with the mouthpiece placed in a different location). In order to begin, the horn must be heated (usually in boiling water) to soften the horn and enable easier removal of the cartilage located within the bone. This cartilage is removed through use of a pick and is a very time-consuming endeavor. Contemporary horn-makers tend to use chemicals to help in the removal of the remaining cartilage but, traditionally, the horns would then be placed on the ground and the removal of the cartilage would be left to the worms and other micro-organisms [8]. Once the interior of the horn is free of cartilage, a mouth-piece is then drilled in the desired location. For traditional Kudu Horns the hole is located on the side of the horn (much like a flute) and for Yemenite shofar's the hole is located at the smallest end of the horn (more like a trumpet). While construction for the traditional vuvuzela and the Yemenite shofar are arguably similar, one of most beautiful aspects of the intstruments is that no two horns sound alike. Because the sound is determined by the length of the horn - the longer the horn, the deeper the sound - no two horns are exactly the same shape and length, therefore ensuring that each individual horn has it's own unique sound.[9].

MODERN HISTORY & SIGNIFICANCE OF WORLD CUP 2010

The vuvuzela, the so-called "horn of Africa", is the official sound of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. It was annouced that the vuvuzela would be the official sound of the World Cup on 15 May, 2004. According to FIFA President Joseph S. Blatter, "it is African culture, we are in Africa. We have to allow them to practice their culture as much as they want to". Always loud, and often annoying, the modern day South African horn is actually made in China. In fact, ninety per cent of all South African plastic vuvuzelas are made in northern China. Ninghai Jiying cranked out 250,000 vuvuzelas a day in four months in preparation for the World Cup, the 2010 Asia Games, and in preparation for the 2012 London Summer Olympics.

Sound of 2010 FIFA Vuvuzela Collected from youtube.com oringz.com publisher

General manager of Jiying Plastic Product Corp, Wu Yijun got on the horn when he saw a cartoon on the Internet in 2001 featuring Africans blowing bamboo vuvuzelas to scare away baboons[10]. Last year, he sold 1,000 vuvuzelas at three Chinese yaun (44 US Cents) to a local African business online. Since then, business has been buzzing; however, Wu’s company has not seen a large profit. Vuvuzelas sell for up to 60 South African Rand ($7.08 US cents) each, which is 26 times the export price[11]. According to a site that follows Chinese business, traders and retailers make more than the Chinese company creating them. "Most of the profit goes to dealers and importers. Our profit margin is less than 5 percent". "We still don't have international pricing power." [12]. According to Wu, the biggest problem for China's manufacturing industry is the lack of strong brands, copyrights and patents.

Jiying Plastic vuvuzelas create an interesting cultural conundrum. Vuvuzelas are a traditional African artefact, yet a Chinese company is mass producing hundreds of thousands of these instruments and selling them back to their traditional country. In a way, this mass exportation of culture is an exploitation of culture but, on the other hand, would vuvuzelas be so prominent at the World Cup if China was not producing them cheaply? The authenticity of the vuvuzela is tainted because it isn’t the real article, but South Africans seem to revel in vuvuzela pride. Another interesting note is Jiying’s issue about copyright. Can they own a piece of culture that they didn’t create? If the answer is yes, than how do you “own” a piece of culture and how much is it worth?


However, not everyone at the World Cup enjoys the plastic vuvuzelas which sound like a horde of bees. The vuvuzela, which sounds off at 127 decibels is obnoxiously loud. French defender Patrice Eura blamed the French losses on his team's inability to communicate over the vuvuzela buzz. Furthermore, the Portuguese skipper, Cristiano Ronaldo has openly stated that he hates the sound. So does the Spanish team. The website www.banvuvuzela.com had 84,000 votes in favour of banning the vuvuzela in the first week of the World Cup, and 9,000 votes in favour of the horn. Furthermore, the BBC received more than 500 complaints about the broadcast background noise of the instrument.

David Broughton, an importer from the UK stated that "perhaps the sound doesn't come across that well on TV, but they are uniting a nation in South Africa". Indeed, even the South African President, Thabo Mbeki has one. To South Africans, the vuvuzela is a symbol of hope and unity. "The vuvuzela is part of our culture. We cannot separate them from soccer fever," said Arch Bishop Desmond Tutu[13].

Dr. Tinyiko Maluleke, the president of the South African Council of Churches explained a brief history of the vuvuzela in an interview with ENI Edinburgh. "In the 19th century, white colonial missionaries gave Blacks Bibles while they took the land. Now we have created the vuvuzela, which is one of the most obnoxious instruments; very noisy, very annoying. It will dominate FIFA World Cup. I see the vuvuzela as a symbol, a symbol of Africa's cry for acknowledgment", said Makulele.

CULTURAL SIGNIFICANCE

As previously stated, the origins of the Vuvuzela are a source for debate in South Africa. However, the original use is clear. The Vuvuzela horn, or its ancestral horns, was traditionally used in South African communities to summon villagers to events and meetings. This also includes calling the village warriors together for battle, directly tying it to its more modern use at soccer matches in South Africa.

The early Vuvuzela horns were in fact Kudu horns that spiraled and were plain in design[14] As the horns started to be made from tin and plastic the shape was straightened and designs representing the local village were added. Its significance in soccer began sometime around 1970 when a Kaizer Chiefs fan named Freddie Maake brought a tin Vuvuzela to a match to cheer with[15]. Over the next forty years it became a staple across South African soccer stadiums for fans to cheer with. The fans play the Vuvuzela in unison creating beats and melodies that can change the mood in the stadium. The goal is to energize the players with different rhythms and volume levels being conducted as a unit.

The original Kudu horn was also adopted by Scouts groups in America and other countries as it’s primary call horn. They would use it in much the same fashion to call together the scouts to prepare for a meeting or event. The Kudu horn was first identified (in relation to the Scouting movement) in 1896 by Lord Baden-Powell while as a Colonel stationed in Africa. While on a mission in the region around the Shangani River, Baden-Powell was impressed by how quickly alarm was spread throughout the Matabele warriors. Having later identified that it was through use of the Kudu horn, Baden-Powell initially used the concept of summoning groups of people at Brownsea training camp in 1907. The tradition has continued throughout the Scouts movement and expansion and is still sounded to signify the start of training camps at locations across the U.S. [16] Kudu horn.jpg


Another explanation for the horn is offered by the Shembe Church in South Africa. The people of the church claimed that the Vuvuzela horn wasn’t just used as a noisemaker but as a healing tool. They said they could make miracles happen by using the Vuvuzela to heal sick villagers[17]. No matter the view in the Vuvuzela debate it always comes down to signaling South Africans to gather for a common purpose.


CULTURAL CONTACT

One of the most interesting aspects of the African Vuvuzela is that it has somehow managed to transcend both time and space as an integral cultural artefact. While there is certainly debate regarding the origins of the instrument, the fact that it has been assimilated and adapted by numerous cultures (and generations) across a wide-spread area is yet another example of the extent of cultural contact throughout the era of colonial expansion. Much like in numerous other instances across the globe, colonial contact was experienced on both sides of the colonial divide (via trade, as well as, colonial advancement). For example, the fact that it is a Jewish tradition to use a Yemenite shofar in much the same manner as many African communities use the vuvuzela (albiet for an entirely different purpose) comes as no surprise as there were direct trade routes that connected the two geographical areas. However, the fact that the American Scouts adopted the use of the Kudu Horn because it was a great communication tool implies that cultures borrowed and took from each other in numerous different ways throughout the colonial era. In addition, the fact that the 'modern' vuvuzela's are being mass-produced in China is evidence to the fact that cultural contact is still very much in existance and is not confined to historical practices and/or events. It certainly provides food for thought regarding the extent to which technology and globalization has influenced the ways in which cultures interact in the world today.



Works Cited

1. http://www.reference.com/browse/wiki/kudu

2. http://www.scout.sg/docs/factsheets/history_kudu_horn.com

3. http://www.kuduzela-sales.co.za/KuduzelaBrochure_201009.pdf

4. http://www.jstor.org/pss/30249471

5. http://www.reference.com/browse/vuvuzela

6. http://www.reference.com/browse/vuvuzela

7. http://judaism.about.com/od/holidays/a/roshhashanah.htm

8. http://www.deanmilleyministries.org/kudu-horn/

9. http://www.jweekly.com/article/full/35768/having-a-blast-s-f-man-masters-the-art-of-making-shofars/

10. http://www.fifa.com/confederationscup/news/newsid=1073689.html "Vuvuzela:Symbol of Africa

11. http://www.cnngo.com/shanghai:/life/chinas-gift-world-vuvuzela=28679/ "China's Gift to the World"

12. http://www.splinteredsunrise.wordpress.com/2010/06/18/vuvuzelas-and-theology/ "Vuvuzelas and Theology

13. http://www.english.peopledaily.com.cn/90001/90778/90860/7055776.html

14. http://www.business.globaltimes.cn/industries

15. http://www.goal.com/en/news/1863/world-cup-2010/2009/10/06/1544280/world-cup-comment-the-kuduzela-is-becoming-a-fan-favourite-ahead-

16. http://www.cnn.com/2010/SPORT/football/06/17/world.cup.vuvuzela.africa/index.html

17. http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/5487738/vuvuzela_cultural_or_criminal_pg2.html?cat=14

18. http://hubpages.com/hub/The-Vuvuzela-a-cultural-symbol-or-an-annoying-plastic-horn-what-is-a-vuvuzela-buy-a-vuvuzela

19. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=28bzu9XqS2w&feature=related. Vuvuzela sound. the LARGEST collection of Vuvuzela horn sounds.