Countries and Their Cultures: Nuristanis

The area known as Nuristan is located at the southern end of the Hindu Kush mountain range in Afghanistan. There are limited amounts of arable land in the Hindu Kush, but there are abundant amounts of pastureland well suited for transhumance. Subsistence is based on the production of cereal grains and of dairy products from goats and cattle. On the basis of linguistic and cultural affinities Nuristanis may be divided into three different groupings. Nuristanis are divided into two endogamous castes -- a lower caste of artisans and a landowning upper caste. The former were slaves until the twentieth century, and they are still predominantly disenfranchised. The lower caste produces the woodworking, blacksmithing, pottery, weaving, and basketry products used by all Nuristanis.