How To: Build Your Own Vuvuzela

The World Cup in South Africa is catching all the headlines and something that has divided opinion is the local instrument of choice that have all but drowned out the crowds at every stadium. The buzzing horns are selling out at any shop that sells them and the droning noise once unique to South Africa is spreading like wildfire.

As you would expect with supply and demand, although they are little more than cheap plastic tubes; they are selling at ridiculous prices often making huge profits for retailers. If you are on the side of the fence that enjoys the noise and appreciates the atmosphere it creates and you don’t want to fork out an arm and a leg for one, there are other ways of replicating the noise.

If you are feeling creative, you just as easily make your own with a few simple household items at a fraction of the price. One of the cheapest options is to gather up around 10 toilet roll tubes, an A4 sheet of thin card, some tin foil and plenty of duct tape.

Slice each of the tubes lengthways and roll the first one in a thin conical shape with the smallest end around half the original circumference and secure with a strip of duct tape. Do this with each tube gradually getting wider each time and attach them all together to they make long tapered conical tube, similar to the shape of the horn, funnily enough. With the A4 sheet of card, fold it in on itself to create a large cone with an angle of around 45 degrees or more, cut out the centre to match then widest end of the toilet roll tubes. Secure to the tubes with tape and you’re good to go. You can protect your instrument from the elements with more duct tape, tin foil or anything else lying around the house.

Another way to replicate the buzzing/droning noise without being singled out by all the ‘Vuvu-haters’ at a match or bar, is to use a balloon with some hex nuts. Place several small hex nuts inside a balloon and blow it up to a decent size, tie off the end and begin to move the balloon in a circular motion to spin the nuts. The contact between the metal and the rubber will create a similar noise to the stadium drone but when everyone turns around to see who to punch, there’s no horn in your hand!

There is no control over the production of Vuvuzelas and building your own wont infringe any copyrights, not quite the case if you try to sell knock off Umbro Speciali boots or fake Liverpool Football Shirts.