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Cape Town – You can't miss him. He is all colour and pipes: Vuvupipes.
James Anthony McGowan, or Piperjames as he is more popularly known, sports a curious figure in his kilt, custom made South African shirt, big colourful ornaments, multi-coloured leather sandals and modified Great Highland bagpipes.
Even more curious are the pipes which are fitted with the front ends of vuvuzelas and give the instrument "more depth" according to the piper.
Motorists slow down and pedestrians stop and take videos on their phones as Piperjames blows a spiced-up version of Shosholoza outside the Cape Town offices of News24.
"It's like being a rock star," Piperjames tells News24 after the mini performance.
When he is not being "a rock star", Piperjames is a professional Highland bagpiper with more than thirty years' experience and performs at weddings, funerals and other events.
Also called the royal bagpiper, the UK citizen - who is soon to be “christened” South African - piped at the weddings of Lady Diana Spencer to Prince Charles and that of the Duke of York to Sarah Ferguson.
He says he hopes to entertain more people with his special brand of music as the country, which has been his home for the past five years, hosts the biggest sports tournament in the world.
Inspired by an article about complaints from “the northern hemisphere” against the vuvuzela and some encouragement from his South African wife Ina, Piperjames went out to prove that vuvuzelas can make music.
“They said it sounded like bagpipes with swine flu. I wanted to prove them wrong. I said to myself, 'I’m going to invent the world’s only vuvupipes. I’m going to be patriotic towards my new country'.”
And he plans to show his patriotism at venues around Cape Town for the duration of the World Cup.
First up, he says, is the Grand Parade in Cape Town, one of the city's fan parks, on Friday where thousands are expected to watch Bafana Bafana face-off with Mexico.
"Although I don't have a (match) ticket myself, I will be there (at the fan park) piping everybody in," he said excitedly.
"It's a once in a lifetime opportunity to put smiles on people's faces, I mean there's enough turmoil," said Piperjames.
Like many other hopeful people, Piperjames reckons the World Cup will change the way the world sees South Africa and it will shake of some of its standing associations with the past.
"If South Africa pulls it off, and by golly we've definitely gone the mile, I'm sure the apartheid ticket will be thrown away, it will fade into history," he said.
And what future does he wish for himself? The “royal piper” has presidential ambitions, he reveals.
Not only would he like to see President Jacob Zuma in a kilt, he would also like to be his official piper, alongside his official “imbongi” (praise singer).
“I can’t pipe Leth’umshini wam but I can pipe Shosholoza,” laughs Piperjames.
You can find Piperjames on Facebook for more information.
James Anthony McGowan, or Piperjames as he is more popularly known, sports a curious figure in his kilt, custom made South African shirt, big colourful ornaments, multi-coloured leather sandals and modified Great Highland bagpipes.
Even more curious are the pipes which are fitted with the front ends of vuvuzelas and give the instrument "more depth" according to the piper.
Motorists slow down and pedestrians stop and take videos on their phones as Piperjames blows a spiced-up version of Shosholoza outside the Cape Town offices of News24.
"It's like being a rock star," Piperjames tells News24 after the mini performance.
When he is not being "a rock star", Piperjames is a professional Highland bagpiper with more than thirty years' experience and performs at weddings, funerals and other events.
Also called the royal bagpiper, the UK citizen - who is soon to be “christened” South African - piped at the weddings of Lady Diana Spencer to Prince Charles and that of the Duke of York to Sarah Ferguson.
He says he hopes to entertain more people with his special brand of music as the country, which has been his home for the past five years, hosts the biggest sports tournament in the world.
Inspired by an article about complaints from “the northern hemisphere” against the vuvuzela and some encouragement from his South African wife Ina, Piperjames went out to prove that vuvuzelas can make music.
“They said it sounded like bagpipes with swine flu. I wanted to prove them wrong. I said to myself, 'I’m going to invent the world’s only vuvupipes. I’m going to be patriotic towards my new country'.”
And he plans to show his patriotism at venues around Cape Town for the duration of the World Cup.
First up, he says, is the Grand Parade in Cape Town, one of the city's fan parks, on Friday where thousands are expected to watch Bafana Bafana face-off with Mexico.
"Although I don't have a (match) ticket myself, I will be there (at the fan park) piping everybody in," he said excitedly.
"It's a once in a lifetime opportunity to put smiles on people's faces, I mean there's enough turmoil," said Piperjames.
Like many other hopeful people, Piperjames reckons the World Cup will change the way the world sees South Africa and it will shake of some of its standing associations with the past.
"If South Africa pulls it off, and by golly we've definitely gone the mile, I'm sure the apartheid ticket will be thrown away, it will fade into history," he said.
And what future does he wish for himself? The “royal piper” has presidential ambitions, he reveals.
Not only would he like to see President Jacob Zuma in a kilt, he would also like to be his official piper, alongside his official “imbongi” (praise singer).
“I can’t pipe Leth’umshini wam but I can pipe Shosholoza,” laughs Piperjames.
You can find Piperjames on Facebook for more information.
