Amandawhereto

 
South Africa
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Vuvuzelas vs Bagpipes

by Amandawhereto
2011-09-22 09:00

This is in response to the IRB banning of the traditional Scottish instrument (the bagpipe), and the subsequent perceived correlation to the vuvuzela (the ‘vuv’).

I wish to inform people that there are in fact differences strong enough to exclude the bagpipes from the ban. The IRB, and people in support of the ban, have forgotten to ask themselves the question: why were instruments like the vuvuzela banned in the first place?

This might be open to some subjection, but I think all objective people can agree that the vuvuzela equates to a mindless drone which does little to create a good atmosphere in the stadium. One of the major impacts of this is that you cannot hear the crowds cheering and reaction to on-pitch proceedings. This is bad for the sport for both spectators and players, and everyone suffers as a result. The deafening din also makes on-field communication extremely difficult.

This is the reason for banning the vuvuzela, and instruments in general.
 
If we look at it objectively and with some common sense, there are a few large differences between the vuvuzela and the bagpipe in the context of this world cup.
Firstly, is the issue of availability. Attaining a set of bagpipes is not nearly as easy as getting a vuvuzela. This is because it is both a specialist instrument, and rather expensive. Contrasting this to the cheap and nasty wholesale production of the plastic vuvuzela, means that there will be vastly fewer bagpipes at stadiums. This means that the sound of a small handful of bagpipe players will not be nearly as overpowering as the mindless drone of tens of thousands of vuvuzelas.

Secondly, the bagpipe is a widely acceptable cultural trademark of Scotland, and has been for hundreds of years. Pundits of the vuvuzela claim this to be the case for the vuvuzela and South Africa. This is simply not the case. The vuvuzela has been a novelty item since last year. While it has been played for a little longer, it has only become recognized worldwide since the 2010 FIFA World Cup, and was used by pretty much every nation and their aunties. I seem to recall that it started in the 1990’s - hardly a cultural South African heirloom comparable to the century’s old and much respected and enjoyed Scottish bagpipe.

As a result of its availability issue and its specific cultural significance, the bagpipe will only be played at Scottish games. The more common and easily acquired vuvuzela will most likely be present at every game in some shape or form, as they come in a variety of different nation independent flavors.    
 
Lastly the bagpipe plays a discernable tune.  When a flaming-red-beard-wielding Scotsman goes to the trouble of bringing a set of pipes halfway around the globe, you can be pretty sure he can belt out a decent tune. Bearing this in mind, and owing to the small number of bagpipe players, it will not result in a mishmash of migraine inducing noise pollution, but rather a great display of a rich cultural atmosphere.

This to me is what a Rugby World Cup should promote.  I personally quite enjoy the stirring atmosphere created by proud and skillful bagpipe players, as has been witnessed in other stadiums worldwide.

While I understand that there has been a blanket ban on musical instruments, and not just the vuv, I feel that it stems from the vuvuzela dilemma highlighted in paragraph 3. I also feel that a blanket ban is unreasonable and a cheap way out of the issue. As a South African (which precludes me from being a Scot, naturally) I think it is perfectly reasonable to allow a hallway pass to the bagpipe because of the points I mentioned above. A special circumstance if you will.   

In the interest of fairness, if everyone somehow gets hold of a set of bagpipes and the same situation occurs, then by all means ban them. But as it stands the vuvuzela made its debut on the world stage last year and failed, the bagpipes on the other hand, have always been a cultural hit at international events. Bring on the pipes!

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