I've  been asked by plenty of people, including my parents and my friends, "What is that sound during the World Cup games?" That would be the vuvuzela, and unless you've kept up with soccer rather closely or watched the

 2009 Confederations Cup, then it's probably a new sound to you.



This is a World Cup of firsts in many respects. It's the first time the World Cup is on African soil. It's the first time many Americans have been more than minimally interested in the World Cup. And finally, for many, it's their first experience with the vuvuzela.



Brief History of the Vuvuzela



Some think the vuvuzela is an instrument derived from the kudu horn, and it was originally used to summon African villagers to meetings. Since then, its role has vastly changed. Since the late 1990's, the vuvuzela has become much more popular. For those who don't know what the vuvuzela looks like, you can see a sample of the picture at the top of the article. The best way I can personally describe the vuvuzela is a plastic horn-type instrument that is about three feet long. You can look into purchasing one at http://www.boogieblast.co.za/index.htm. (By the way, I love the slogan the company has: "You only hate them if you don't have one!"



There was a controversy over the vuvuzela recently, and many fans, coaches, and players wanted the instrument banned, citing it as "distracting" and "disrupting". I can see how a stadium sounding like a bees' nest would be slightly annoying, but as far as disrupting and distracting I'm not so sure. I think you can make a better argument for chants and songs at English Premier League soccer matches being distracting. I don't think that's annoying by any stretch of the imagination, I think that just adds to the overall experience and culture of the game. Nevertheless, the final decision was to not ban the vuvuzelas, which I'm sure is obvious if you've watched a World Cup game yet.