Waj

Afghan (Nuristan)

On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 681

The waj is used by Kafirs in Nuristan, Afghanistan, for social gatherings and epic songs. Similar harps are seen in paintings in northwest India that are more than 2,000 years old. The waj may have come into Afghanistan while the region was under the influence of Buddhism between the fourth and eleventh centuries. This harp can be used to accompany epic storytelling.

Waj, Wood, hide, animal hair, nylon, cloth, Afghan (Nuristan)

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Waj, Wood, hide, animal hair, nylon, cloth, Afghan (Nuristan)
Waj, Wood, hide, animal hair, nylon, cloth, Afghan (Nuristan)
Waj, Wood, hide, animal hair, nylon, cloth, Afghan (Nuristan)

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