Maker of Vuvuzela Is Selling Earplugs Too

Neil van Schalkwyk, the man credited with mass producing the ubiquitous vuvuzelas at this year’s World Cup, is also promoting a novelty earplug to help protect the hearing of those attending games at venues in South Africa.

Together with Uthango Social Investments, a group that focuses on social entrepreneurship and community development in South Africa, van Schalwyk is marketing the vuvuzela unPlugged(tm) earplug which the makers say “virtually eliminates pressure on the ear canal, making the earplugs an extremely comfortable earplug for long term usage.”

According to a press release, part of the proceeds from the vuvuzela unPlugged earplugs will go towards development of poor regions in Africa.

The seemingly ceaseless and some would argue intolerable din caused by the vuzuvela, the raucous horn “instrument”, has led to a commiserate rise in sales of earplugs in South Africa. Moreover, there have been reports that thousands of vuvuvelas played simultaneously at matches can achieve a level of noise harmful to a person’s hearing.

Demand for protection against the incessant noise is so high in South Africa that shopkeepers are struggling to keep up. One was quoted by AFP as saying he could have easily sold 300 earplugs in a day while another plans to order 1,000 more.