View source for Makarapa

{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Use South African English|date=July 2023}}
{{short description|Expressive headgear worn by South African sports fans}}
[[File:South Africa fans before South Africa %26 Mexico match at World Cup 2010-06-11 5.jpg|thumb|South Africa fans wearing makarapa and giant glasses]]
A '''makarapa''' is a hand-cut and hand-painted [[Helmet|hard hat]] worn by sports fans. They belong to the typical [[South Africa]]n [[soccer|football]] fan's supporters gear,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mg.co.za/article/2010-05-18-makarapa-maker-eyes-global-success |title=Makarapa maker eyes global success |author=Barry Moody |date=18 May 2010 |publisher=[[Mail & Guardian]] |accessdate=19 May 2010}}</ref> and are increasingly popular with fans of other sports. Sport fans spend hours on sculpting and painting their makarapa in the colours and emblem of their clubs or country. Besides the makarapa, fans also wear giant [[glasses]]<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/8672014.stm  |title=South Africa's number one football fan |author=Pumza Fihlani |date= 18 May 2010|work=BBC News |publisher=[[BBC]]|accessdate=18 May 2010}}</ref> or have shields with team slogans and logos. With the [[2010 FIFA World Cup]], the international profile and availability of the makarapa has increased greatly.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.fifa.com/worldcup/news/newsid=1166491/index.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100503180323/http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/news/newsid=1166491/index.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=3 May 2010 |title=Makarapa by the hundreds |author= |date= |publisher=[[FIFA]] |accessdate=19 May 2010}}</ref>
== History ==
The origin of the term "makarapa" goes back to the start of mining in South Africa. The word ''makarapa'' literally meant "scrapers", referring to men who would leave the rural areas to go to the cities and "scrape" a living in mining and construction work. Upon returning they would be carrying or wearing the hard hats normally used by miners (the majority being migrant workers by [[Apartheid]] laws) and construction workers; eventually the term came to refer to the protective hats themselves.{{Citation needed|date=May 2010}}
Makarapa were present in [[Zürich]] at the selection of South Africa to host the 2010 FIFA World Cup. In September 2009 [[Sepp Blatter]] received a makarapa as a gift during a FIFA inspection.{{fact|date=July 2023}}
Makarapa is registered to Grant Nicholls and Trade Marked 2006/20971, expiring 4 September 2026.{{fact|date=July 2023}}
== Design ==
Makarapa are decorated to serve purposes such as being used as fan articles, an individual [[work of art|artwork]] as well as a means of promoting one's team brand in the stadiums as they attract a lot of media attention. They still also afford the wearer protection from missiles thrown at sporting matches,<ref name='lux'>{{cite web |url=http://www1.voanews.com/english/news/sports/taylor-world-cup-part-one-91825549.html |title='Makarapa' Hats Expected to be a Fan Favorite at South Africa's World Cup |author=Darren Taylor |date= 21 April 2010|publisher=Voice of Africa |accessdate=19 May 2010}}</ref> their original reason for being worn.
==See also==
*[[Vuvuzela]]
*[[Handy horn]]
==References==
<references />
== External links ==
{{commons category|Makarapas}}
*[http://www.makarapa.co.za History of the makarapa, trademark and official website including pics and order details]
*[http://www.madamandeve.co.za/cartoons/me004754.jpg Madam&amp;Eve Makarapa Armed Response cartoon]
*[http://www.makarapa.co.za Official makarapa website]
{{Fanatism in Association football}}
[[Category:Headgear]]
[[Category:Association football fandom]]
[[Category:Culture of South Africa]]
[[Category:South African English]]
[[Category:2010 FIFA World Cup]]