Tahani was a homeless beggar in Ibadan, Nigeria until she met Safiyah Sohail, who took her to live on the island Coryana. Kate Kane later washed up on the island, and she and Safiyah became lovers. Eventually, Kate left Coryana, and for an unknown reason Safiyah left soon after, causing Tahani to blame Kate for Safiyah’s disappearance.
At some point between Kate leaving Coryana and returning as Batwoman, Tahani became an assassin called Knife and joined The Many Arms of Death. She and Batwoman fought when Kate returned to Coryana.