Our Name

We all love a warrior queen! An epitome of strength, resilience, and feminism. Over the centuries, the legacy of Dihya Al-Kahina lives on and her name is still being passed on to every generation. Presently, she’s a symbol of feminism.

A woman of many talents, she was a great militant who led her people to battle. According to the Arabs who refer to her as Al-Kahina she was a priestess soothsayer, a sorcerer, whose very origin is unknown, even the exact spelling of her name is a mystery with versions like; Damya, Daya, Dehiya, Dahiya and our organization’s name, DIHYA. She’s believed to be from Algeria and is considered one of the most famous figures in the history of the Berber resistance to the Arab conquest in the 7th century.

Various cultures tell different contradicting stories. One exciting myth about her is that she once married a tyrant, killed him at their wedding to save her people from his oppressive rule. It is also believed that she died at war with a sword in hand, alongside her three sons. Whether history or tale, the stories of the bravery of Dihya al Kahina encouraged many peoples to claim part of the myth for themselves. The Muslims said that after her defeat she converted and used her as a classic Muslim role model. The Berbers considered her their own local hero, and even the French compared her to their national hero, Joan of Arc, who fought the English and similarly to Dihya was eventually conquered by her enemies

To borrow from Dihya, our organization seeks to empower girls to go to war, not with swords but with education, science, and technology, our modern-day weapons. Girls should embrace their inner strength to take on the world. While the architectural designs of most political, social and economic structures impede women from fully achieving their potential, our determination and resilience will sail us through.