South Africa World Cup 2010 - Makarapas Madness

Watch out, we are soon to be overtaken with football fever. For you’d have to be an ostrich not to have noticed that we are only days away from the start of the World Cup in South Africa www.fifa.com. [Prepare for corny African animal similes in connection with this event, at every given opportunity!] Like it or loathe it, we will all find ourselves drawn in. If only because there are already some very good World Cup promotions to be had! www.sainsburys.co.uk

It’s strange, but true that, as we become an increasingly individualistic society we are united, in corresponding proportion, by these grand media events, with their related marketing. They give us all universal ‘permission’ to have fun and be distracted.

Sadly the red and white of England’s colours are not very exciting, especially when set against those of the World Cup host. It seems the England team is expected to play quite well, whilst South Africa’s prospects look less promising. But what might lack in South Africa match results will certainly be made up for in their spectator stands, with every supporter wearing a ‘makarapa’ [Prepare, also, for World Cup smatterings of fabulous local lingo! ‘Makarapa’ is derived from a local word for migrant mine worker.]

The makarapa was first seen at a football match in 1979 when an inventive bus cleaner called Alfred ‘Lux’ Baloyi decided that he’d enjoy watching his favourite football team, the Kaiser Chiefs, more comfortably if he wore a hard hat. (Back then, supporters in the cheap seats at his local ground, withstood the hazard of bottles being thrown from up above.) Luckily enough he had a friend in the construction industry who could supply him with one.

Returning home, Baloyi was pleased with his hard hat and the difference it had made. He felt inspired to decorate it and wore it to subsequent matches, often being asked if he’d sell it. He started to make and supply more to fellow supporters and eventually this lead to him leaving his cleaning job and setting up a workshop where his artistry and flare has developed into a full time business supplying all kinds of makarapas, sports memorabilia, including the vuvuzela, another local favourite. (A long brightly coloured trumpet which make a fantastic elephant-like sound and is blown at all sporting events, especially football matches.)

Baloyi is currently enjoying publicity wider than he could ever have imagined, even in his wildest dreams! All commentators love his story for it is surely the essence of South African style, at it’s best. Baloyi’s designs have a unique quality which is particularly sought after and his earlier makarapas, particularly with those ‘signature’ eyes, noses, horns or famously exaggerated spectacle frames, are already collectors’ items. Philip Treacy eat your heart out and just wait for the Baloyi influence to filter through www.philiptreacy.co.uk

Posted by Katie Barr-Sim 3 months ago in

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