Brian Omondi Ogola Genard, credited as Brian Ogola, is a Kenyan film, television and stage actor. Since 2012 he has played roles in television shows, such as '' Jane and Abel'', and in films such as ''

Kati Kati ''Kati Kati'' is a 2016 Kenyan drama film directed by Mbithi Masya. ''Kati Kati'' is a co-production of One Fine Day Films and Ginger Ink. At the 2016 Toronto International Film Festival, ''Kati Kati'' won the Prize of the International Federatio ...

'', ''Lusala'', ''Neophobia'' and ''Poacher''.

Early life

Ogola was born in December 8, 1989 and raised in Kenya's capital, Nairobi, the son of George Josia Ogola Osele (1948–2021). He attended Unity Primary School and later St. Mary’s School, Yala, where he completed his high school education and became interested in theatre.Mwangi, Nick
"Meet ''Poacher'' Actor Brian Ogola"
NairobiWire.com, October 5, 2020 He performed in church plays and musicals around the city from 2009. Ogola took business courses at the

Technical University of Kenya Technical University of Kenya (TU-K) is a public university in Nairobi, Kenya. It was chartered in January 2013 by then-president Mwai Kibaki. History Technical University of Kenya grew out of the Kenya Polytechnic. The Kenya Polytechnic was f ...

from 2010 and then at Kenya Institute of Management, but left to pursue acting full time in 2013.

Career

In 2012 under the coaching of David Morin of Slingshot Productions, Ogola won an "actors monologue challenge". He made appearances in local tv shows such as ''Mwangaza,'' ''Love 101'' on KTN, ''Block D'' and ''Lies That Bind'' (2013). In 2014, he joined the soap opera '' Jane and Abel'' as leading man Abel Simba. In 2015, he appeared as Anto in the movie ''

'', which was nominated at the

90th Academy Awards The 90th Academy Awards ceremony, presented by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS), honored the best films of 2017, and took place at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California. The ceremony was held on March 4, ...

as Best Foreign Language Film. The film won the 2017 Minneapolis St. Paul International Film Festival’s Emerging Filmmaker Award and 2017 Africa Movie Viewer’s Choice Awards for East Africa. In 2017, he starred in the short film ''Neophobia'',Amani, Sam
"Actor Brian Ogola accuses companies of underpaying actors"
''The Standard'', 2022 the only African movie chosen for the 70th

Cannes Film Festival The Cannes Film Festival (; ), until 2003 called the International Film Festival ('), is the most prestigious film festival in the world. Held in Cannes, France, it previews new films of all genres, including documentaries, from all around ...

. He was nominated for best film supporting actor at the East African Riverwood Awards for his role in the movie. The same year, he appeared in the '' Too Early for Birds'' historical plays, based on the blog Owaahh and as Mark in the film ''

18 Hours ''18 Hours'' is a 2017 Kenyan drama film written and directed by Njue Kevin on his directorial debut. The cast includes Nick Ndeda, Sue Wanjiru, Brian Ogola, Isaya Evans and Shirleen Wangari. The film "follows a rookie paramedic who survives 18 ...

'' written and directed by

Njue Kevin Njué Kevin (born 19 February 1992) is a Kenyan film director, producer and screenwriter. He is best known for writing and directing the film 18 Hours (film), 18 Hours which won the Best Overall Movie in Africa, Africa Magic Viewers' Choice Awa ...

. The film won Best Overall Movie in Africa in the 6th Annual Africa Magic Viewer’s Choice Awards 2018 (AMVCAs). In 2018, Ogola played Mutua in the

Netflix Netflix is an American subscription video on-demand over-the-top streaming service. The service primarily distributes original and acquired films and television shows from various genres, and it is available internationally in multiple lang ...

short film ''Poacher''. The film was selected as a finalist at the Hollywood #Just4Shorts festival and was also selected to screen at the World of Film International Festival Glasgow'2018. The same year he appeared in the film ''Lusala''. He also appeared in the films ''Selina'' and ''Crime and Justice''. In 2022, he starred in the new play ''Speak their Names'' by Sylvia Cassini at venues in Nairobi."Kenyan Actors Star in New Silvia Cassini Play"
''Business Today'', November 15, 2022

Filmography

film

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ogola, Brian Kenyan male television actors 1989 births Living people 21st-century Kenyan male actors