Author Archives: John

1. “Bafana” – The nickname of the South African national team. It means “boys” in Nguni and often appears as “Bafana Bafana” in news articles and advertising. Although ranked 83rd in the world, the South African team has created so much optimism in the host country that there’s a shortage of its jerseys for sale.

2. “Vuvuzela” – This trumpet-like instrument blows one note that sounds like an elephant. Critics fear the vuvuzelawill cause serious issues during the games. The instrument is banned from rugby and cricket matches in South Africa because it’s loud and distracting. Soccer fans vow to blow the vuvuzela loud and often in support of Bafana.

3. “Madiba Magic” – Nelson Mandela is 91 and frail, but hope remains that he will turn up during the World Cup; perhaps when the South African team and his nation most need inspiration. Madiba is Mandela’s Xhosa clan name.

4. “Braai” – Shortened from the Afrikaans word braaivleis, which means “roasted meat”, a braai is what we’d call having a barbecue, except it’s bigger, more social, involves more drinking and lots more meat. You haven’t been to South Africa if you haven’t enjoyed a braai.

5. “Sundowner” – A sunset and the drink enjoyed while watching it. Going for a “sundowner” means going to a pub or the beach for a glass of wine or a pint.

6. “Zakumi” – The World Cup’s popular leopard mascot, whose name comes from the country code for South Africa (“za”) and the word many African languages use for “ten” (“kumi”).

7. “Diski” – The official dance of the 2010 World Cup, the Diski incorporates soccer moves in its dance steps. Diski is the word used for “soccer” on the playgrounds of several black townships.

8. “Biltong” – Delicious jerked meat from a number of sources, including ostrich and wildebeest. Biltong can be found in many restaurants and grocery stores.

9. “Bunny chow” – A type of fast food most popular in Durban, the bunny chow is a hollowed out loaf of bread filled with one of a variety of curries.

10. “Soccer” – It’s not “football”, to the regret of many Europeans. South Africa, like Canada and the United States, calls the sport “soccer” in part because it has another form of football, rugby. For the same reason, Australians and New Zealanders will also call the game “soccer”, which is a 19th-century English euphemism for “association”. You will hear the game referred to as “football” in South Africa too, but many fans call it “soccer,” and the opening and closing matches of the World Cup will be played in Soccer City Stadium in Johannesburg.