By Kuria Kimani
Brian Martins Ogana is a Kenyan actor who burst into fame for his role in Maria-a popular telenovela that aired its last episode on 18 March 2021. He played Luwi Hausa in the program that premiered on 10 October 2019. The famous actor has had his fair share of controversy but that has not dimmed his celebrity status.
Here is the Brian Martins Ogana biography as told by WoK.
Age
The actor was born in 1987. He was raised in Nairobi.
Education
Ogana is an alumnus of Mukumu Boys High School, an institution that nurtured his acting skills. He was an enthusiastic member of the journalism and drama clubs.
He harboured dreams of pursuing a course in civil engineering but a change of heart led him to computer engineering. He enrolled at the University of Nairobi where he undertook his undergraduate degree. He later made a switch to journalism and acting.
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Career and Breakthrough with Maria
His father was a huge influence in shaping him into the actor he is today. In a past interview with a local media house, Brian shared how his father introduced him to literature and would give him Shakespeare plays to read.
Luwi worked at a local station for close to a decade before joining Good News Broadcasting System (GBS) as host, reporter, and news anchor. He was a communication strategist at the institution steering the company’s interaction with its various stakeholders.
Unknown to many, Brian Ogana has been in the Kenyan entertainment industry as an actor since 2007. He had been featured in several TV telenovelas and films before he took a hiatus. Some of these popular programs include Changing Times, Guy Center, Nairobi Diaries, and Wash and Set. In a separate interview, Ogana said, “I just took a break and Maria is my comeback”, and indeed it was his launchpad into the mainstream audience.
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Maria
In the telenovela that aired on weekdays between 7:30 pm and 8:00 pm on Citizen TV before it was replaced by Zora, Ogana played Luwi Hausa. Maria, produced by the power couple Lulu Hassan and Rashid Abdalla, was a successful production that won the Best Television Drama at the Kalasha awards 2020. Luwi Hausa is a spoilt son of the wealthy couple William and Victoria. He is later married to Sofia and when Maria, a girl from the ghetto is adopted into the family, he develops romantic feelings towards her. Brian Ogana said the role stretched his acting capacity as he had to play different emotions in quick succession. He looks up to Will Smith and Denzel Washington, actors who have immensely influenced his screenplay.
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Additionally, Ogana has starred in a play by Brian Mwanzo titled Sweethurt as William, a man in love with a lady he has to leave behind as he pursues further studies abroad. When he comes back years later, his girl has moved on and is in an abusive marriage. The play seeks to explore themes of marriage, Christianity, and gender-based violence.
Wife
Brian was married to Kenyan supermodel Jacque Naisenya with whom he was blessed with three children before the couple called it quits in 2020 in an amicable split. In an expose by Edgar Obare in December 2021, Ogana has seemingly moved on and found love again after a video of him being cozy with an unidentified lady was released.
Hobbies and Businesses
Brian is an entrepreneur who runs his sartorial suit business sourcing and selling high-quality suits. During his leisure time, he enjoys reading Greek mythology and history, swimming, and cooking.
Controversies and Drama
The actor was accused of conning a lady of over Ksh 290,000 sent out in two instalments for a business partnership that did not take off. He came out in his defense saying, “On the money, we are in a business partnership with my fiancé. She’s the one who sent me the cash since it’s a 50/50 partnership. We even have a partnership agreement.”
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As if that was not enough, another story surfaced online claiming that he was charging women to sleep with him. In a series of screenshots making rounds on social media platforms, Brian reportedly demanded Ksh150,000 from a lady to spend a weekend with her. His fans were alarmed as these screenshots were posted from his social media accounts. To this, he responded by saying. “I did flag out at one point that my account had been hacked and discredited any message that was sent out there. It’s both Facebook and Instagram. I strongly believe it’s one of my exes who’s gone the whole hog.”
His ex-wife Nasenya also chimed in his support saying, “We live in a world where technology is being misused for selfish reasons. Creating and hacking people’s accounts to bully people won’t make you happy but leave you miserable for the rest of your life.”
