Essential kit for football fans – a makarapa and a vuvuzela

THE local version of the Beautiful Game is about the passion, the support, the sound and the colour.

Before you get close to a stadium you'll hear the sound of football - somewhat like a herd of stampeding elephants. That's right, it's the sound of the vuvuzela, the brightly coloured plastic trumpet-shaped instrument every proud football fan owns.

Some say the first vuvuzela was the kudu horn used to call African villagers to community meetings.

But the modern version of the loud horns really took off as an essential item for every football fan in the 1990s and today they can be bought just about anywhere, on street corners, in stores, at football clubs and even online.

Doing the Diski Dance

Another item no ardent football fan will be caught without is his custom-made makarapa, shaped from an industrial hard-hat.

Originally used as protective headgear in construction and mining, these hard-hats come in all shapes and colours.

The original makarapa was made by Alfred "Magistrate" Baloyi, a master makarapa craftsman.

Typically, makarapas will have the team colours and other paraphernalia cut out on the hard plastic outer core.

Last, but not least, is the Diski Dance, a dance that reflects the passion of our football fans. (For our visitors, Diski is the township slang for soccer, the name given to football in South Africa.)

The Diski Dance describes in dance the game of football, with distinct moves reflecting the action on the field. But, as with all things South Africa, it's done with rhythm and flair, and a sense of humour.

Join in and add your own moves - catch the spirit of South Africa.