It originated in central Slovakia as a sophisticated folk shepherd's overtone fipple flute of unique design in the contrabass range.

Because of the high aspect ratio of the sound chamber (great length versus small internal diameter), the player can use overtones to play a diatonic scale using only the three tone holes.

Today, the fujara has moved from the shepherds' fields to the stage of folk festivals in the Slovak towns of Východná and Detva.

The instrument has also left Slovakia and is played all over the world; particularly by aficionados of native flutes in western Europe and North America.

[4] "The Fujara and its Music" was added to the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2008 by UNESCO.