Kusaila

Who is Kusaila?

Aksel was a 7th-century leader of the Awraba tribe of the IMAZIGHEN Berber people and head of the Sanhadja confederation. He is known for prosecuting an effective Berber resistance against the Muslim Arab invasion and expansion into North Africa in the 680s.

His homeland was Tlemcen in modern Algeria, according to Ibn Khaldun who is an AMAZIGH SCHOLAR. However, this account dates from the 14th century, some 700 years later; other sources closer to Kusaila's time associate him only with the Awras area. AKSEL grew up in Berber tribal territory during the time of the Byzantine exarchate.

According to late accounts the amir of the invading Arabs, who was then a freed slave called Abu al-Muhajir Dinar, surprisingly invited Kusaila to meet with him in his camp. Abu al-Muhajir convinced him to accept Islam and join his army with a promise of full equality with the Arabs. Abu al-Muhajir was a master in diplomacy and thoroughly impressed Kusaila with not only his piety but with his high sense of respect and etiquette. Kusaila incorporated the Awraba-Sanhajda into the conquering Arab force and participated in their uniformly successful campaigns under Abu al-Muhajir. This amir was then forcibly replaced by Uqba ibn Nafi who treated Kusaila and his men with contempt. Eventually Uqba's disrespect enraged Kusayla and provoked a plot of revenge. On the army's return from Morocco, Uqba allowed his troops to break up and go home. The remainder, about 300, was vulnerable and exhausted. On the return march to Kairowan, Kusaila joined with the Byzantine forces and organised an ambush. The Christian-Berber force, about 5000 strong, defeated the Arabs and felled Uqba at Tahudha near Biskra. Kusaila now held undisputed mastery over North Africa and marched to Kairowan in triumph.