Can’t Stand the Vuvuzela? Maybe You’ll Like The Makarapa

January 2nd, 2010 | by: Laurie | View Comments

Consider it the prettier, less annoying sibling to the vuvuzela: the Makarapa football helmet, which will be the other star of the stands in World Cup 2010 in South Africa.

Like the vuvuzela, these helmets are a South African football tradition; they had their start back in the 1970s, when Alfred ‘Lux’ Baloyi (in the photo) modified and decorated mining helmets as a way to protect fans from getting hit by thrown bottles. This video takes a look at how they’re being handcrafted for the World Cup:

More of the story:

“Gradually, while still keeping its original protective purpose, the helmet has evolved until today’s wearer carries the emblems and insignia of the various football teams, a favourite player, or the team’s mascot,” says Open Writing’s Barbara Durlarcher, a South African now living in Canada. “Evolving into a unique and distinctive piece of folk art, it has proved very popular with tourists and football aficionados.”

Baloyi hand-crafted his makarapas, but could only complete two a day, and therefore partnered with businessman Grant Nicholls to increase production ahead of the 2010 World Cup.

“Initially we spoke to Fifa,” Nicholls told 2010 Countdown’s John Webb. “We spent a lot of time registering the company and protecting the rights; we’ve managed to get an investor; we’ll shortly be opening a factory.”

Wonder what the airport security X-ray machines are going to make of these?

(Photo by Lefty Shivambu/Gallo Images/Getty Images)