The vuvuzela was the defining sound of the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa. And whether you hated or loved the cheap, plastic horns, it was impossible to go to a stadium, listen to a broadcast, or watch a game without hearing their iconic, incessant buzzing.

Players, broadcasters, and fans complained about how loud they were, millions of people across the world took sides for or against them, and there were even calls to ban them from the competition – but, somehow, the vuvuzelas prevailed.

Join me as I explore the plastic horn’s controversial origins, how it became the singular sound of the 2010 World Cup, and its infamous legacy in sports, pop culture, and beyond. 

 

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