Go to South America and you will find yourself dancing and singing to latin rythms among thousands of latin drummers. Go to Japan or Korea and you will hear the Taiko drums pondering away through the stadium. Go to England and you will hear the fans singing (and fighting) their hearts out. This is the charm of sports and especially football - wherever you go in the world people come together to celebrate and have fun in their special way. This is also what FIFA stands for - bridging communities and cultures.

Now I don’t know much about football and the only time it interests me is during World Cup. Mostly because it’s such a big thing that unites the world over boarders, politics, cultures and people. And this year, 2010, we are in Africa, in South Africa, to experience this continent, this country, this culture. They have welcomed the world with open arms and they invite us to take part in their celebration. If this means celebrating with dancing, singing and vuvuzela blowing, it is still celebration. A regional way of celebration if you wish, just like the samba rhythm in Latin America. 

Most of us outside Africa aren’t used to this way of celebration, especially the sound coming from the horns. It annoys us and it disturbs TV broadcasts and team management. But let’s just live with it, I say. Get used to it, I say. Other team sports use radio transmitters to communicate with their teams and there is something on every television set called “the volume button”. It’s easily done. 

After all, we are guests in Africa, we are here to take part in a huge event and we are here to experience African culture. Let’s not ruin this by complaining on our hosts. It’s football, it’s celebration, it’s bridging between people, culture and boundaries. A sound shouldn’t jeopardize this, no matter how annoying it may be. So instead of hating, grab a horn and join in the celebration!

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