Nuristan Province of Eastern Afghanistan
Kafirs people

Wood, hide, nylon, cloth
Early 20th century
Length: 23 in, Height: 16.5 in
Chordophones – Harps

The waji (waj, kafir) is an arched harp used by the Kafirs in Nuristan province of eastern Afghanistan.  It was used for social gatherings and to accompany epic storytelling.  The waji may have come into the region Afghanistan during the spread of Buddhism between the fourth and eleventh centuries. This waji consists of a flat bottom, boat-shaped wooden resonator that is waisted with two pointed ends. The resonator is covered with skin that is pierced with sound holes and laced on with thongs. A curved wooden string holder passes through two holes in the skin head. There are four strings that pass through one shorter end of the bowed-shaped string holder held by knotting.  On the opposite side the strings pass over small knobs to thick chords that are wrapped around the taller arm of the string holder.

References: Klimburg, Max (2004). “The Arts of Societies of the Kafirs of the Hindu Kush”. Journal of the Royal Society for Asian Affairs. Academic Search Premier EBSCO. 35 (3).     Musical Instruments of Afghanistan: An Ethnomusicologist’s Journey | The Metropolitan Museum of Art (metmuseum.org)