The Kafir harp (known in the local language as waj, waji, vaj or vaji) is a traditional Arched harp (with a bow-shaped body formed from a tree branch with four to five string depending on size) used by the Kafirs in the Nuristan province of Afghanistan. It is played during social gatherings, and to accompany epic storytelling or songs of heroic tales.
Similar harps used to be widespread in ancient times throughout Central Asia and India, and this harp possibly entered Afghanistan during the spread of Buddhism across the region but today the waji is not used in any other part of Afghanistan. It has been compared to the ennanga of Uganda and harp designs used in Sumer and Ancient Egypt as far back as 3000 BCE.
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