1. So what is a Vuvuzela and what’s the fuss?

It’s kind of an ear-shatteringly loud plastic trumpet. Coined South Africa’s “secret weapon” by many in the international press, it sounds like an elephant when you’re up close, or a swarm of VERY angry bees when you’re sitting in a stadium crammed full of excited fans ALL blowing on them. With gusto!
It’s used to excite the blower’s team…and distract the opposition.
FIFA considered banning them, but decided against it as long as it’s not used as a weapon. (The same goes for the “kuduzela” — a similar trumpet but in a kudu horn shape.)

“The vuvuzela is a true representation of what African culture is about, and what African culture is,” said Issa Hayatou, the president of the Confederation of African Football.
Although the noise can be unbearable (reaching a reported 131 decibels!) with players and coaches often unable to hear each other, South Africans are hugely loyal to the vuvuzela that’s become a symbol of so much more than just a football trend. It’s become a symbol of hope and rejoicing in the Rainbow Nation.

2. What’s the Diski Dance?

South Africa’s Diski Dance is a fab jive that features township football style moves transformed into dance. “Diski” is slang for football, and this dance was created especially for the World Cup.
“The whole idea was that we needed to come up with something that is truly South African,” says Wendy Ramokgadi, choreographer of the dance. “Our country’s football is rhythmic, and so all the moves that we use in the dance are those same moves that are used on the South African football pitch, moves you can only find in our country.
“The Diski Dance is one of the things I am most proud of, I really am excited about it,” says Ramokgadi. “When these people come to our country, let them come and feel the rhythm of Africa. We must just work, wear, eat, sleep the Diski Dance.”
Watch the video from South African Tourism to see it in action:

And now learn the Diski Dancing Steps yourself (everyone else is!)

3. Then what’s the Waka Waka?

Well, that’s being touted as the ‘official dance’ of the World Cup and it’s also pretty cool. It happens to also be the official World Cup song, performed by Shakira and featuring fab SA band Freshlyground. Full song title is: Waka Waka (This Time for Africa).
Waka Waka is a Cameroon term for ‘do it’ (as in ‘perform a task’) although others say it’s a Swahili verb that means shine. The song was originally from Cameroon…
Here’s the official video!

Shakira : Waka Waka Lyrics

Oooeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeehh

You’re a good soldier
Choosing your battles
Pick yourself up
And dust yourself off
Get back in the saddle

You’re on the front line
Everyone’s watching
You know it’s serious
We are getting closer
This isn’t over

The pressure is on
You feel it
But you got it all
Believe it

When you fall get up, oh oh
If you fall get up, eh eh
Tsamina mina zangalewa
Cuz this is Africa
Tsamina mina, eh eh
Waka waka, eh eh
Tsamina mina zangalewa
This time for Africa

Listen to your God
This is our motto
Your time to shine
Don’t wait in line
Y vamos por todo

People are raising
Their expectations
Go on and feed them
This is your moment
No hesitations

Today’s your day
I feel it
You paved the way
Beleive it

If you get down get up, oh oh
When you get down get up, eh eh
Tsamina mina zangalewa
This time for Africa
Tsamina mina, eh eh
Waka waka, eh eh
Tsamina mina zangalewa
Anawa a a
Tsamina mina, eh eh
Waka waka, eh eh
Tsamina mina zangalewa
This time for Africa

(Lady Singing)
ame la mejole biggi biggi
mubbo wa, ET to zet
asi tsu zala makyuni biggi biggi
mubbo from east to west
asi waga waga ma hehe
waga waga ma eh eh
tendency suna tsibuye
CUZ THIS IS AFRICA

Voice: Tsamina mina, Anawa a a
Tsamina mina
Tsamina mina, Anawa a a

Tsamina mina, eh eh
Waka waka, eh eh
Tsamina mina zangalewa
Anawa a a
Tsamina mina, eh eh
Waka waka, eh eh
Tsamina mina zangalewa
This time for Africa

Django eh eh
Django eh eh
Tsamina mina zangalewa
Anawa a a

Django eh eh
Django eh eh
Tsamina mina zangalewa
Anawa a a

(2x) This time for Africa

(2x) We’re all Africa

4. Why’s the SA squad called Bafana Bafana, and who’s in the team?

Bafana Bafana means “the boys, the boys” in isiZulu. It’s a term that was yelled out by jubilant fans during the team’s triumphant performance at the 1996 African Nations Cup. And the name stuck.

The team’s coach is Carlos Alberto Parreira. He’s a Brazilian who once led his own country to World Cup victory, in 1994.
Sadly SA is one of the weakest host teams in the history of the World Cup, ranked only 83rd, and the team has been ridiculed more than praised in previous years for its bad performance BUT things are turning around. With the mounting excitement around SA hosting the World Cup, and Parreira’s choice of a mainly young, fast team there’s renewed pride and hope in Bafana Bafana. And in recent matches — they’ve been winning!

5. Which are the Top 20 teams and where does Bafana Bafana stand in the FIFA Rankings?

Hmmm. This is where your team REALLY needs you. Bafana Bafana are ranked 83rd. The good news is that’s 7 places better than where we were until recently: 90! The not-so-great news is that the other teams in our Group are: France (#9), Uruguay (#16) and Mexico (#17).
Here’s the top 20:
1 — Brazil; 2 — Spain; 3 — Portugal; 4 — Netherlands; 5 — Italy; 6 — Germany; 7 — Argentina; 8 — England; 9 — France; 10 — Croatia; 11 — Russia; 12 — Egypt; 13 — Greece; 14 — USA; 15 — Serbia; 16 — Uruguay; 17 — Mexico; 18 — Chile; 19 — Cameroon; 20 — Australia

6. Who’s Zakumi?

Um, official mascot of the 2010 FIFA World Cup…but so far not really inciting the kind of excitement and support he’s meant to.

He’s apparently a party “animal” (being a green-haired leopard and all) and has been launched as “the mascot with an attitude” who’ll turn the World Cup into a huge party and show the guests the warmth and spirit of Africa.
He loves football (of course) and is named Zakumi after ZA (for South Africa) and ‘kumi’ (which translates into ‘10? in various African languages) — South Africa ‘10 (get it?).
In his biog it says he has “one striking weakness”. The weakness? He uses up so much energy that he requires frequent (short) rests, and can suddenly fall asleep at random moments. But so far — he seems to have been snoozing too much.

7. What’s a Makarapa

Another uniquely South African accessory! It’s a very colourfully decorated and elaborate plastic hard hat that fans wear on their heads, and that was created for…safety!

Alfred Baloyi (51), a very talented artist, created the makarapa years ago after watching a bottle flying through the air at an unruly match in Soweto.
“We used to go to the stadium without wearing anything on our heads and it was dangerous,” he said. “I realised that these hard hats could protect me.”
They’re called ‘makarapa’ because that’s isiXhosa for the migrant workers who wore hard hats in mines.
Nowadays most fans adorn the makarapa to immerse in the festive atmosphere at matches, and they’re as vital as the vuvuzelas.

8. Oops. What are the words to the anthem? I’m feeling VERY patriotic and I want to sing along!

The anthem’s called Nkosi Sikilel’iAfrika and you can print out a very easy-to-learn PDF of the words and then watch the video below and sing along!

South Africa Safety App

South Africa Safety App for iPhone and iPod Touch has been approved and is in the Apple App Store for purchase!