Dahiyya al-Kahina bint D̲j̲arāwa al-Zanāt / Al-Kahina / Dihya al-Kahina / Dahlia / Daya / Dahia-al-Kahina

Dahiyya al-Kahina bint D̲j̲arāwa al-Zanāt was also known as al-Kahina, Dihya al-Kahina, Dahlia, Daya, and Dahia-al-Kahina. Due to her alleged prophetic abilities, she was given the moniker 'The Kahina' (priestess, sorceress, or prophetess) by her Muslim-Arab adversaries. She was born in the early seventh century and died near the end. She was the daughter (or possibly the niece) of Berber king Aksel, a well-known Imazighen freedom fighter. The princess later became queen and ruled over a Judaized Berber tribe in modern-day Algeria's the Aurès Mountains. She had three sons, Bagay and Khanchla, and the third, Khaled Ibn Yazid Al-Qaysi, was adopted. 

According to Muslim texts, her physical appearance is described as, “dark-skinned and great of hair with huge eyes”. She was described as great in size or very tall which was a characteristic associated with a prophetess. Kahina’s intellect and persuasive abilities were prominent characteristics of her personality and possibly also contributed to the impression that she was a sorceress. The queen was the true embodiment of a warrior; far from being weak or subservient contrary to the stereotypical attributes of Maghreb women. Kahina is frequently described as tall and "great of hair," which is typically interpreted as having long dreadlocks. Many later artists depicted her as fair-skinned or even white, which is simply not accurate, as she was a black African Queen.

Religion

There are numerous competing theories about her religion, but the most prevalent is that she was a Christian, as there are accounts of her traveling with an idol of a Christian saint or the Virgin Mary. There is also speculation that she is Jewish, as her tribe was the Judaized Berbers, and that her Jewish faith inspired her resistance. Additionally, it has been asserted that she followed the Numidian religious tradition, which included the worship of the sun, moon, and ancestors.

The Conflict and Arab Invasion

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“The land was so badly burned that any future campaigns would have to cross an arid wasteland without resources. But Dihya wasn’t done.” 

Ancient History Encyclopaedia. 

Dihya, the tall, powerful military religious leader, committed a final and stubborn act of defiance against an Arab army that invaded her homeland in Northern Africa (Numidia). Known to Arabs as 'The Queen of the Berbers,' she led the Berber resistance against Arab adversaries. Her valiant and defiant act was heroic, as she defeated Arab general Hassan Ibn Al-Numan in the Battle of Meskinana despite being outnumbered.

This single-handed defeat forced the general to flee to Libya, where she ordered her men to start fires. Following this, Kahina ruled over Carthage and the majority of the Berbers in North Africa for five years.

Kahina was a highly strategic and intellectual thinker who was well aware that her powerful adversaries would reappear. She began to set a plan in action and informed the populace that the Arabs were invading the land solely for its immense wealth, and thus directed them to make the land 'undesirable'. She set the countryside, cities, and orchards on fire. Unfortunately, this strategy resulted in her forces turning against her, she lost support from the sedentary city and oasis-dwellers, and accelerated her units' defeat. Her intentions were thwarted because the Arabs were unconcerned about the destruction. They were determined to take over North Africa with or without its wealth as it served as their gateway to Spain and Europe. They were also adamant about carrying out their agenda of converting the region's people to Islam. After Kahina's victorious defeat, the Arabs returned with a large army and invaded the Berber lands five years later.

Death and Defeat

Queen Dihya's date and manner of death are unknown, but it is believed to have occurred between 701 and 702 AD. Most of Dihya's forces rallied against her, and she was eventually defeated in battle near the end of the seventh century. When the Arabs invaded again, they pursued Dihya into the mountains, where she was killed near what is now known as the 'Well of the Kahina.'

According to legend, she either died in battle with her sword in hand or took poison to evade capture. Additionally, she could have been apprehended and then executed. According to legend, she lived for approximately 127 years..

Historical Mark and Legacy

Queen Dihya has been dubbed the "Female Face of Berber History" and the last dissenting voice in Northwest Africa against Islamic rule. Today, Berber activists frequently use images of the Kahina to emphasize their strength and inability to be conquered or diminished by anyone.

Her enduring narrative has been passed down through generations, reinforcing Amazigh women's strong sense of self. Children are inspired and empowered by this incredible North African Heroine after hearing stories about her from their grandmothers. Numerous works of art have been dedicated to the queen, including street art on the entrance to a village city in north-central Algeria and a nine-foot statue in Bagha. This demonstrates her current popularity among Algerians.

The Berbers revere her as a hero, and the French have drawn parallels between her and their own Joan of Arc.

This courageous warrior-queen dedicated her life to protect her land and culture and this makes her one of the greatest icons and rulers of all time.

References

Derman, U., 2018. Queen of the Desert: The Amazing Story of the Jewish Khaleesi from the Maghreb. [online] Museum of the Jewish People. Available at: <https://www.anumuseum.org.il/blog-items/queen-desert-amazing-story-jewish-khaleesi/> [Accessed 19 March 2021].

Akhalbey, F., Ntreh, N., Nunoo, A., Taylor, M., Nunoo, A., Mubarik, A. and Tollo, N., 2018. How this brave Jewish Berber queen fought against Islamic expansion in 7th century Northwest Africa - Face2Face Africa. [online] Face2Face Africa. Available at: <https://face2faceafrica.com/article/how-this-brave-jewish-berber-queen-fought-against-islamic-expansion-in-7th-century-northwest-africa> [Accessed 19 March 2021].

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Imgur. 2014. Dihya The Queen of Numidia. [online] Available at: <https://imgur.com/UUUVleH> [Accessed 19 March 2021].

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