Ghana is going crazy, buzzing with excitement for the World Cup. As one might expect, there is a clear point of pride with the tournament being hosted on African soil for the first time. Ghanaians do not only root for their home team, known as the Black Stars, but also the other five African nations that are competing (South Africa, Nigeria, Algeria, Cote D’Ivoire, and Cameroon). Every commercial is soccer-themed and highlights are shown nonstop. The official World Cup song (K’Naan – Wave Your Flag) can literally be heard every few minutes. You can’t help but get swept up in the hype.
Yesterday, we watched Ghana’s first match against Serbia. People wear anything red, yellow, and green, Ghana’s national colors. A bunch of people have these long plastic horns called vuvuzelas that they blow whenever something good happens… or for no reason at all. They throw their heads back and blast this hilarious deep buzzing note. (It’s the same instrument everyone is using in South Africa to make that insane buzzing noise.) We watched in a little restaurant packed with men crowded around a small TV. Ghana scored the only goal of the match on a penalty kick with just a few minutes left in the game and the place ERUPTED. The music started the second the game ended and everyone just danced. Not crazy jumping up and down like I’d expect at home. Instead, they were swaying their hips with their hands in the air, just groovin.
We went to a club in town and danced like madmen that night. Lots of people were still playing their vuvuzelas even at the club. It was an AWESOME time — I wish I could be here for the whole tournament, but unfortunately the last of the U2Hers (minus Joey) return home this week. Next time.
- Jacob
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