The Kobyz (Kazakh: қобыз, Qobyz; Bashkir: ҡумыҙ; Tatar: кубыз) or kylkobyz (Kazakh: қылқобыз, qylqobyz; Bashkir: ҡыл ҡумыҙ; Tatar: кылкубыз) is an ancient Turkic bowed string instrument, spread among Kazakhs, Karakalpaks, Bashkirs, and Tatars . The Kyrgyz variant is called the ). The qobyz has two strings made of horsehair. The resonating cavity is usually covered with goat leather. Traditionally kobyzes were sacred instruments, owned by shamans and bakses (traditional spiritual medics). According to legends, the kobyz and its music could banish evil spirits, sicknesses and death.