Blessing Lungaho is one of Kenya’s most magnetic TV stars, the kind who can swing from heartthrob to villain to comedy gold without breaking a sweat.
From stealing hearts in Maria to commanding screens in Igiza, this three-time Kalasha nominee has become the kind of artist who is always looking to expand his capabilities.
And now, just when you thought you had seen every version of him, Blessing is here flipping the entire industry on its head. He now takes centre stage in Showmax’s bold new gender-swap dramedy Adam to Eve, Blessing plays not one, not two, but three characters, including a Nairobi playboy who is forced to live life as a woman after a mysterious curse.
From gaining 13 kilos to questioning everything he thought he knew about masculinity, Blessing’s latest transformation is nothing short of over the top.
In an exclusive, the 37-year-old gets candid about stepping into stilettos and confronting misogyny in Adam to Eve:
You studied accounting in school, how has that shaped how you manage your career?
Performing has always been my thing. I have been on stage since I was five years old. Everything else, including accounting, was just… extra. Eventually, I dropped everything else to chase what I was truly meant to do.
I only studied accounting because I thought I needed a “real job.” I had no idea acting could ever become an actual career for me. Then life did its thing. The stars aligned, I got a shot to audition for a couple of commercials, and boom… that’s how my journey in the industry began.
Growing up, who did you look up to in the industry?
Raymond Ofula. Ken Ambani. I still call Ken “Baraza” because of his name in Tausi. Every time I met him in Nairobi, I would fan out. Then things started changing. I would fan out, and then he would start fanning out too. He’s like, I watch you too.
What was your first reaction when you learned that you would be playing multiple roles?
I actually auditioned alongside more than 400 people, so when they picked me, they didn’t sugarcoat anything. The producers told me flat-out this was going to be a difficult task.
So, when I read the script my first real reaction was pure fear. I wasn’t just playing three different characters, but I was giving five completely unique performances. I genuinely didn’t know if I had that kind of range. I was insecure, terrified even.
The first two days on set felt like I was drowning. Then, somehow, everything clicked on. I found my groove. But trust me, getting there was rough. I’ve never done anything like this before, and it pushed me in ways I didn’t even know were possible.
How did you prepare to take up these roles?
Honestly, I went full method. I binged Orphan Black. Remember Tatiana Maslany who had to play over 17 clones at a go. I needed that kind of inspiration because I was stepping into multiple personas myself. I even had to gain weight to convincingly play a pregnant woman in the show. I added about 13 kilos. No fancy diets, just me taking straight shots of olive oil. And once we were done shooting, I had to lose it all again.
How do you separate your real life from the characters people associate you with?
True. Suddenly everyone has an opinion about who I am, and I hear the wildest, most amazing things about myself. But here’s the truth: I am not what I do. Once you learn to separate the two, everything becomes clearer. At the end of the day, I’m just my mother’s son. Acting is something I do but it’s not the core of who I am. Blessing, the brand? That’s not me. That’s the version of me that shows up on screen, on set, on posters. My real life is much quieter, much simpler.
Do you remember your first fan encounter?
Back when I was on Maria, I stopped at a petrol station, and after filling up, the pump guy looks at me and goes, “Meja, I’ll pay this.”
I was like, “Bro… no. I probably make more than you. Let me pay for my own fuel, it’s okay.” But then he told me why.
He was going through a rough time with his wife, and the show had become the one thing they could talk about without arguing. Every evening, no matter how bad things were, he could say, “Hey, did you watch the show tonight?”
That hit differently. That was the moment I realized the impact we have on people’s lives.
What is your perspective on fame since you joined the industry?
Listen, fame is wild. The other day I went to Kajiado for a ruracio, just minding my business, and guests kept staring and whispering. Someone even pulled me aside and asked, “Why are people taking pictures of you? Are you an MP in Nairobi or something?”
The truth is there’s no manual for this thing. Fame is fickle. Nobody prepares you for it, and half the time it feels downright weird. My mantra has always been simple: stay humble. That’s the only way to survive it.
I have seen people who were massive stars when I was growing up and today, no one even recognizes them. That keeps me grounded. I know there will be a day when I’m no longer famous. And I really believe this too shall pass.
What stereotype about Nairobi men do you think Adam portrays perfectly?
Detachment. The thing is, Adam isn’t a “bad boy.” He’s not out here trying to hurt anyone. He’s just living life the only way he knows how. In so many ways, he’s misunderstood.
You can only meet people at the level you have met yourself, and Adam has never taken the time to figure out who he really is or what he stands for. He has no sense of self, no internal anchor. So how can he give anyone else what he doesn’t have? He doesn’t love himself, so naturally, he has no love to offer anyone else.
Did the show change your perspective about women’s experiences?
Honestly. This performance didn’t just change how I see women; it changed how I see everything. I realized very quickly that the way I move through the world is completely different from how a woman experiences it. Even something as simple as saying, “I’m okay,” doesn’t mean the same thing.
What message do you hope viewers take away from this story?
For me, Adam’s entire journey is about one thing. Finding himself. He learns through the hard way that everything starts with him. You can’t love anyone if you don’t love yourself. You can’t show up for someone else if you can’t even show up for you.
He realizes he doesn’t need validation or approval or someone to “complete” him. You don’t need to overcompensate or pretend to be more than you are. You’re okay exactly as you are.