In the wake of the 2005 military coup in Mauritania, the Benyachou family cast its support behind the new regime and became outspoken critics of slavery which is still seen as an acceptable practice by the ruling Berber elite.  The move led to major social reprimands and the Benyachou family have been virtual pariahs in the upper echelons of Mauritania society, despite widespread international support for their move.  The Benyachou family is headed by Ahmed Benyachou who oversees the lives of his six children and their children.

One of Ahmed's grandsons, Samba Benyachou, joined the Centrist Reformist party which is made up of moderate Islamists, and ran for political office in the 2007 elections.  Despite following in his grandfather's footsteps, Samba's indiscretions as a member of the young 'party set' managed to dampen any pride his grandfather may have had.  After his defeat in the elections and the disappointment he felt emanating from his family home, Samba left Mauritania and spent some time north in Algeria and then Egypt where his playboy antics were welcomed by Nephthys and her court.  He was spotted by Sakhmet at a party and aroused her interest enough that he was invited to a secret ceremony beneath the streets of Cairo.  Originally planned as a sacrifice, Samba managed to talk his way out of imminent death and found himself on the run inside the labyrinthine tunnels which were the domain of Nephthys and her Sons of Set.  During what he assumed was a chase, Samba stumbled into an underwater stream which was actually being used to fuel Nephthys' magical rituals.  The water dragged him under thick panels of sandstone until he was completely lost and thought he would die, but instead he found himself in a small, dark room.  In the centre of the room was a small box in laid with gems.  He was drawn to the box and as he clasped his hands around it he was rocked with energy.

After recovering from the invasive energy Samba stumbled backward and saw before him a kind of hologram.  It showed him the layout of the underground complex and then shifted to an image of war.  Two sides raced together in the image with swords raised and firearms blazing.  Behind the two warring fronts were larger beings, imbued with power.  He looked at his own hands and realised he was glowing with a green energy similar to that in the hologram.  Samba had the uncanny thought that he was watching the future and that he had a part to play in this battle between good and evil.

Six months later Samba Benyachou is also known as Faris, of the Knight.  He is a member of Africa Force Two which is based in Zimbabwe.  After returning to Mauritania he found that even with his newly discovered powers he and his family were still not accepted by the elite.  His grandfather suggested in no uncertain terms that he should accept Africa Force's offer of membership and move to Zimbabwe where he could 'do some good'.

Some of that 'good' has involved a particularly embarrassing clash with The Hunt where Samba managed to get Hippo stuck in quicksand which nearly killed him: something Hippo has never forgotten.  The two have clashed two times since and Samba has been beaten both times, although not enough in the mind of Hippo.

Like many of the other members of Africa Force Two, Samba has found the Zimbabwe government becoming more and more difficult to work with.  He has a low opinion of the Zimbabweans and has already begun to set in motion plans to relocate Africa Force Two to Mauritania.  He doesn't realise it yet, but the Sons of Set are also putting into place plans to retrieve him from Zimbabwe and complete the transformation he underwent in Cairo making him one of Nephthys' loyal minions.

Samba grew up within a privileged bubble in Nouadhibou, and despite currently finding himself a kind of social pariah In his homeland, he still believes in his innate superiority.  He doesn't deliberately set out to upset people but he can't help it.  Wherever he goes he manages to charm the people around him, but the charm usually gives way to arrogance.  As a result Samba has very few friends, although he doesn't seem to notice.

He is devoted to the concept of Africa Force and has big plans for the team, particularly when they leave Zimbabwe (which he believes is inevitable).  He also has national political ambitions and maintains a very close vigil on the political landscape in Mauritania.  He is a clever politician but has to develop maturity before he can really start to build a career.

"Some people are born to lead and others are born to provide the entertainment."

The magical energy which now resides inside him is similar to the magic being used by Nephthys when she creates her minions, but although the similarities are quite resounding there are differences.  Heru-sa-Aset has made several hints that the bestower of the energy is an opposing deity to Set.  He has refused to speak more about it (probably because of Samba's off-putting arrogance).  The energy allows him to create a protective field around his body.  This field provides him with protection but also allows him to fly at great speed as well as creating its own self-sustainable atmosphere within the field so that Samba can survive almost anywhere.

Samba is wildly patriotic and refuses to wear the standard Africa Force costume, preferring instead to wear a suit base don the Mauritania flag.  It is a light green bodysuit with a stylised golden crescent reaching from the right shoulder to his waist.  There is a star emblazoned on his chest over the crescent line.  His magical field appears as a glowing green energy with an inner golden glow.

Samba is a very attractive Arab with a decidedly handsome profile and smooth cultured voice which has the ability to charm anyone.  He still maintains a rich lifestyle despite his family losing some social status back home in Mauritania.