Akazai is a Pakhtoon (or Pashtoon; Pashtun) tribe hailing from northern Pakistan. Specifically, it is a subdivision of the Isazai clan within the larger Yousafzai tribe. The Yousafzai tribe is widely recognized as one of the most influential, renowned, and esteemed Pashtoon tribes; settled in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan. Yousafzai are known for their rich cultural heritage, strong tribal code (Pashtunwali) and historical influence; the tribe played a significant role in resisting British colonial expansion and preserving their autonomy. Military historian Colonel Harold Carmichael Wylly offers a personal perspective on the vast Yousafzai tribe, stating:

"The Yousafzai is an agriculturist, generally a fine, well-limbed man of a good physique and appearance with great deal of race-pride, well dressed and cheery, while his hospitality is proverbial".

The Akazais are considered to be a tribe among The Black Mountain (Tor Ghar) Tribes, a division of the Isazai clan of the Yousafzai tribe. They are the descendants of Aka, the son of Isa (Isazai), and the grandson of Yusuf/Yousaf/Yousafzai.Akazais are further divided into four sections with each section having three or more sub-sections.

The Akazai tribe (approximately 35,000) occupies the western slopes of a mountainous region known as Tor Ghar (meaning "Black Mountain"). Akazais also inhabit a portion of the crest of Tor Ghar on the northern side of Hassanzais. On their eastern side is part of Agror, to the north are Chagharzais (Nasrat Khel and Basi Khel) while to the west is the famous Indus River. The southern face of Machai Sar ("Peak"), which is the highest peak (9817 feet) of Tor Ghar, belongs to the Akazais. The main Akazai villages are Kand (Upper and Lower), Bimbal and Bilianrey. Other villages are Darbanrey, Kanar, Bakrey, Laid, Lashora, Bakianra, Moraata, Torum, and Larey. During the period of Sikh rule and up to 1868, Akazais held the village of Shatut in Agror valley (Tehsil Oghi). For better prospects of life, Akazais migrated to adjoining area and cities within Pakistan.Those Akazais who migrated from Tor Ghar are now living in Tehsil Oghi (adjoining Tor Ghar), Pakhal Valley and Konsh Valley - Chinarkot Mansehra district, Malikpura - Abbottabad, Khalabat Township, Nara Gandgar, Haripur, Karachi, Rawalpindi and Burhan in District Attock.^{[citation needed]}

During the British Rule 1858 to 1947, Tor Ghar had never been under its administration. The Akazais, along with the Hassanzais, were very active in fighting against the British.

The fighting character and bravery of the tribe was described by Sir William Wilson Hunter as follows:

The Campaign of 1863 taught us to our cost that an expedition against the Fanatical Encampment may mean a war with a coalition of 53,000 fighting men of the bravest races in the world. The inaccessible character of the country renders the temper and the internal relations of the tribes a matter of uncertainty with our Frontier officers; and whenever the Rebel Settlement suffers a defeat, it has merely to fall back deeper into the recesses of the Mahában.

The Indian-British government sent five major expeditions to Tor Ghar to suppress The Black Mountain (Tor Ghar) Tribes at different times: