Kuduzela - Making noise for nature

Kuduzela

Relatively few people have been privileged to experience the awe at watching Africa’s most majestic and elegant of antelope, the Kudu, gracefully galloping across the African bush. It is known as a solitary animal, more likely to roam the vast plains on its own, than to be found in a herd, and is easily identified by its most distinct feature, its magnificent spiralled horns.

The greater kudu’s horns can grow as long as 180 cm in length, making 2 graceful twists to its points, and have long been prized in Africa for a number of uses, most notably being used by the Matabele people, as a call to action when villagers were engaged in battle or meetings. It is believed that the earliest form of traditional “trumpet” was the Kudu Horn – called ixilongo in isiXosa and mhalamhala in Tshivenda – which was blown to summon African villagers to meetings.

Thus what could be more African, than a combination of one of Africa’s most loved musical instruments, the Vuvuzela, and its most majestic and much loved antelope.

The aptly named Kuduzela, which is based on the design of the handsome Kudu’s curved horns, combines ancient tradition, traditional conservation and modern manufacturing, stretching across centuries, civilisations and our vast continent, in a harmonius blend between original Kudu horns and South African entrepreneurial spirit, making it a truly African instrument. The Kuduzela has replaced the very popular Vuvuzela, as the authentic symbol for sport in South Africa, and replaces the harsh blare of the Vuvuzela, with a softer trumpeting sound, which is easier on the ear.

Quoting Dr. David Mabunda CEO of South African National Parks (SANParks) during his speech launching the Kuduzela to the public on 14 July 2009

" Have you ever wondered what the origins of the kuduzela are? Well, all over Africa, villagers were traditionally summonsed to community meetings by blowing on a kudu horn. Sometimes the kudu horn was even blown as a call to battle. We thought this was also a symbolic South African way of inviting the anticipated 450 000 tourists to our country for the 2010 FIFA World Cup as well as call to "battle" that occurs on the field (fortunately only with a leather ball)."

The development of the Kuduzela was thought to be a very attractive notion for SANParks because it established a link with the Kudu horn, which forms the basis of SANParks brand and its well-known logo.

SANParks thus teamed up with a manufacturer, for the development of this musical instrument, which has become an innovative way of keeping a motor industry components manufacturer operational and staff employed, during the economic downturn.

The value of the Kuduzela lies in the fact that with every Kuduzela being sold a percentage of the manufacturing cost will go to SANParks, www.sanparks.org , to be used for their “Kids in the Parks Programme”. Thus the Kuduzela not only plays an important role in the 2010 soccer hype, but also enables corporates to contribute to conservation and ensuring the sustainability and survival of a workforce as well.

Should you wish to purchase a Kuduzela and ensure a contribution is made to conservation, please do not purchase imitations and ensure to purchase your items directly from us, or one of our distributing stores. For more information on the origin of the Kuduzela or the spending of the funds raised, please see the attached brochure, or contact South African National Parks.