Opinion has been divided on the deafening decibels generated by the vuvuzela horns, which have been an inarguable part of the 2010 World Cup. The trumpet-like horns have also sold well around the world, as football fans try to recreate the atmosphere of South African stadiums at home and in bars.
But who would have guessed that an instrument promoted as distinctively South African was mass produced in China? According to Chinese state media “up to 90 percent of the vuvuzelas in South Africa were made in China.”
One of the manufacturing companies quoted in the report, Zhejiang-based Jiying Plastic Products, said it had sold more than one million vuvuzela horns since April. The report added that “nearly all of the vuvuzelas blown by World Cup fans come from five factories in Guangdong province and Zhejiang.”
The horns are exported “at prices ranging from RMB0.6-2.5,” state media writes, and are sold for between RMB18-53. The good news for manufacturers is that the vuvuzela craze may endure beyond the World Cup – London Mayor Boris Johnson has hinted that the buzzing bee sounding horn might be welcomed at the London Olympics in 2012.
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South Africa’s Vuvuzela: Made in China
Opinion has been divided on the deafening decibels generated by the vuvuzela horns, which have been an inarguable part of the 2010 World Cup. The trumpet-like horns have also sold well around the world, as football fans try to recreate the atmosphere of South African stadiums at home and in bars.
But who would have guessed that an instrument promoted as distinctively South African was mass produced in China? According to Chinese state media “up to 90 percent of the vuvuzelas in South Africa were made in China.”
One of the manufacturing companies quoted in the report, Zhejiang-based Jiying Plastic Products, said it had sold more than one million vuvuzela horns since April. The report added that “nearly all of the vuvuzelas blown by World Cup fans come from five factories in Guangdong province and Zhejiang.”
The horns are exported “at prices ranging from RMB0.6-2.5,” state media writes, and are sold for between RMB18-53. The good news for manufacturers is that the vuvuzela craze may endure beyond the World Cup – London Mayor Boris Johnson has hinted that the buzzing bee sounding horn might be welcomed at the London Olympics in 2012.
This entry was posted on Thursday, June 24th, 2010 at 12:04 pm and is filed under News commentary. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.