South Africa's Vuvuzela (or Vuvusela) is a unique brightly coloured elongated trumpet that makes a sound like a herd of elephants approaching. It has revolutionised the atmosphere at South African Soccer matches. You will have heard nothing like it!

When the excitement mounts the noise builds like a crescendo, ‘symbolically’ striking fear into the hearts of the opposing team or maybe just to give their own team a wake up call. It has become a necessity for every die hard South African soccer fan and is destined to become an icon at the South Africa 2010 World Cup. Just imagine tens of thousands blowing their Vuvuzela’s to create a uniquely South African soccer experience.

Its origins can be traced back to ancient times in Africa. People used to blow on a kudu horn to summon villagers to a gathering. In the Townships initially a Vuvuzela was made of tin, but budding entrepreneurs soon caught on and now Vuvuzela’s are made in all colours and variations, and almost exclusively made of plastic.

There is some uncertainty about where the word Vuvuzela comes from. One theory is that as ‘Vuvu’ is the Zulu word for making noise so with the addition of the ‘zela’ it can be interpreted as “to make noise constantly”. Others see it as related to the township slang word for shower. This could be because it showers you with noise and that it actually looks a lot like a showerhead.

Local soccer giants Kaizer Chiefs (one of the best South African Soccer Teams from Soweto) encourage their fans especially during the last 15 minutes of a game, to blow their Vuvuzela's as loud as they can.

"There is an old African saying that goes like this: 'The baboon is killed by a lot of noise'. We make as much noise as we can to confuse our opponents on the field," says the Kaizer Chiefs Public Relations Officer."Remember this game is not like golf or tennis, where you are actively encouraged to keep quiet. This is a loud game"

The word Vuvuzela has become part of every day South African speech, where you threaten to "blow your Vuvezela" if you don’t get what you want, or need to be heard.

At the World Cup 2010, the Vuvuzela will be on sale at every 2010 Stadium as well as every street corner. You will not be properly World Cup dressed without one, so at South Africa 2010 buy your Vuvuzela in the colours of your country.

Molo says: "Don’t forget to subscribe to our popular newsletter with World Cup 2010 updates. Download our 2010 World Cup Google Earth Map . Read more on Cape Town Townships or Things to do in the Townships such as Guguletu , Khayelitsha or Langa on Cape Townmagazine.com."