Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff on Tuesday unveiled the country's answer to South Africa's vuvuzela - the plastic horn that provided an omnipresent din at the 2010 World Cup.

The caxirola, pronounced ka-shee-raw-la, has the backing of the Rousseff government to be the official instrument of the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

The instrument is an adaption of an African caxixi, a type of shaker comprising a small basket of woven straw filled with dried seeds.

Created by musician Carlinhos Brown, the caxirola is made from recycled plastic.

"I believe that the caxirola is not only a part of football but of our country's immense capacity to make an instrument that is much more beautiful than the vuvuzela," Rousseff said during an event in Brasilia.

"I am sure that children in particular are going to have a fantastic experience with the caxirola. Carlinhos told me that it has a transcendental sense of healing, peace with the world and to be spiritually in tune with nature."

Brown said the caxirola had already been approved of FIFA and will join the governing body's line of official World Cup products.

"It amplifies the shout of a goal and unifies the fans. It's an instrument of peace," Brown said.

More than 50,000 caxirolas will be distributed free to fans before the Bahia-Vitoria match on April 28 at the newly opened Fonte Nova World Cup stadium in Salvador.