Nuristani people

Nuristani, outdated Nuri Staner, Kafirs, is a collective name for several small communities in mountainous regions of Afghanistan and Pakistan. Their languages ​​form next to the Iranian and Indo-Aryan branch of the Indo-Iranian languages ​​separate.

Until their forcible in 1896 people of this ethnic group have been abused by the Muslim population as sauze Kafir ( " green-eyed infidel " ) because they followed their own animistic beliefs, partly based on ancient Indian traditions. These were similar to those of neighboring peoples dardischer such as that of the Kalash in Chitral, northwestern Pakistan. The latter were able to escape Islamization in part to this day.

For traditional culture is the only strong vocal polyphony of Central Asia. The most popular musical instrument is the bowed harp Waji. Chants are also two-stringed fiddle from the sarindi ( a regional variant of the sarangi ) and watc tuned by the hourglass and accompanied clapping.

For more detailed information about each nuri stani between tribes and their geographical spread, see also the article Nuristani languages.