Beautiful sound or nagging noise: Public perception of the use of the Vuvuzela in sports

Abstract

The Vuvuzela has attracted extensive attention from different circles, especially in the period leading to and after the 2010 FIFA World Cup tournament which was successfully hosted by South Africa. While critics of the Vuvuzela have called for the outright banning of the instrument, many groups are in support of its usage in sports tournaments. The purpose of this study was to examine the perceptions of the public regarding the use of the Vuvuzela during sport events. A qualitative approach was used in the study. Four focus group interviews were conducted on a purposive sample of thirty seven respondents to elicit their views on the use of the Vuvuzela in sports competitions. The sample comprised individuals who regularly attend Premier Soccer League matches, attended at least one 2010 FIFA World Cup match and were familiar with the use of the Vuvuzela as a cheer leading instrument were discussed. Five themes namely: culture, health, distraction, versatility, and camaraderie were identified in the study. Several issues concerning the use of the Vuvuzela were established. Based on the findings of the study several recommendations were made.