Zarinah Hassan, popularly known as Zari Hassan or Zari the Boss Lady, is a Ugandan businesswoman, socialite, musician, and actress. She is famous for her lavish lifestyle, high-profile relationships, and strong business acumen.
Zari's journey from a young girl in Jinja to a successful entrepreneur and media personality in South Africa exemplifies resilience and ambition. Her multifaceted career and personal experiences continue to inspire many across the continent.
Quick Facts About Zari Hassan
- Full Name: Zarinah Hassan
- Stage Name: Zari the Boss Lady
- Date of Birth: September 23, 1980
- Age: 44 (as of 2025)
- Place of Birth: Jinja, Uganda
- Nationality: Ugandan
- Occupation: Businesswoman, Socialite, Musician, Reality TV Star
- Current Residence: South Africa
- Net Worth: Estimated at $8.8 million (KSh 1.09 billion)
Early Life and Education
Zari, also known as Zari The Boss Lady, was born on September 23, 1980, in Jinja, Uganda, to Mr. Nasur Hassan and Mrs. Halima Hassan. She grew up in Jinja where she also studied. Zari's origins are of mixed race, as her maternal grandfather is from India, while her paternal grandmother is from Somalia. Her grandmother is originally from Uganda.
She exhibited a passion for music from a young age, participating in school concerts and community competitions. After completing her secondary education at Jinja Girls High School, where she was active in music, drama, and dance groups, she moved to London to pursue a diploma in cosmetology. Her early exposure to performance arts laid the foundation for her multifaceted career.
After completing her primary school education, Zari joined Jinja Girls High. After her high school studies, Zari traveled to the United Kingdom and registered for a cosmetology diploma program.
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Career and Business Ventures
Many people know Zari as a business lady not knowing that she started off as a singer after completing her high school studies. In 2007, Zari dropped the 'You're mine' hit after which she released other songs featuring Ugandan artists. Zari bagged Award of the year in the Diaspora category in 2009.
Zari delved into the world of business after pursuing a career in music and has now achieved millionaire status through the success of her business endeavors. Her professional journey encompasses music, entrepreneurship, and reality television.
In 2007, she released her debut single "Oliwange," which earned a nomination for Best East African Video at the Africa Channel O Awards.
She co-founded Brooklyn City College (BCC) in South Africa with her late husband, Ivan Ssemwanga. The institution offers diverse courses and has campuses in Pretoria, Polokwane, Durban, Johannesburg, Nelspruit, Vereeniging, and Rustenburg.
Beyond education, Zari has investments in real estate and owns a luxury hotel in Kampala. Her business acumen has solidified her status as one of East Africa's prominent entrepreneurs.
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Here is a summary of Zari Hassan's business ventures:
| Business | Description | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Brooklyn City College (BCC) | Educational institution offering diverse courses | South Africa (Multiple Campuses) |
| Real Estate Company | Real estate firm | South Africa |
| 5-Star Hotel | Luxury hotel | Kampala, Uganda |
| Cosmetic Shop | Beauty and cosmetic shop | Pretoria, South Africa |
Personal Life
Zari's personal life has been the subject of many controversial stories, particularly during her relationship with Bongo Flava star Diamond Platnumz. Zari's ex-husband, Ivan Semwanga, passed away in 2017 due to a heart attack.
Zari Hassan was married to her late ex-husband Ivan Ssemwanga. She left him after he turned violent and realised she needed to raise her children in a stable environment. Zari admits that a confrontation by one of her sons made her take the tough decision to be a single mother. She has three children with Ivan Ssemwanga - Pinto, Raphael and Quincy.
After the break-up of her marriage, Zari Hassan found a new love in the arms of Tanzanian singer Diamond Platnumz. At the start of their relationship, the pair kept things secret and Zari said it was because of their huge difference - she was eight years older - and had three children with Ivan Ssemwanga.
Zari Hassan got two more children with Diamond - Latifah Dangote who was born on 6 November 2015 and Prince Riaz who was born on 6 December 2016.
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In 2018, Zari Hassan dumped Diamond after numerous cheating allegations that were levelled against him. However, that was not the reason Zari left the musician. In her interview with Toke Makinwa, Zari said his dishonesty was the reason why she walked out on him. She asked him to publicly declare Hamissa Mobeto as his second wife but he refused and that left her with no other option but to leave.
Zari Hassan is married to Shakib Lutaaya, a Ugandan businessman. The couple tied the knot in a glamorous wedding ceremony in October 2023, an event that was featured on the reality show Young, Famous & African.
Children
Zari is a mother to five children:
- Three sons with Ivan Ssemwanga: Didy, Quincy and Pinto.
- Two children with Diamond Platnumz:
- Latifah Dangote (born November 6, 2015)
- Prince Nillan Dangote (born December 6, 2016)
Media Presence
Zari has a significant presence on social media platforms and reality television. She stars in the Netflix series "Young, Famous & African," which showcases the lives of African entertainers and A-listers in Johannesburg.
Zari Hassan and her baby daddy Diamond Platnumz feature in a Netflix series dubbed Young, Famous and African which premiers on March 18. Alongside them will be other African celebrities - Nadia Nakai, Naked DJ, Swanky Jerry, Khanyi Mbau, Andile Ncube and Anni Macaulay-Idibia.
The show Young, Famous and African wasn’t Zari Hassan’s first reality television show. She starred in her reality TV show, UBC TV’s Zari, Bosslady in 2012. The show ran for fourteen weeks and covered Zari’s life as a mother, wife, entrepreneur, model and artist. The television show gave the audience a chance to know her better and increased her popularity massively.
In the reality TV show Young, Famous and African, Zari stated that she has a great relationship with Diamond, the father of their two children. She also reiterated that they are not bitter exes.
She is the heiress and CEO of Brooklyn City College (BCC), a South Africa- based educational institute. It is diverse, and progressive. She co-founded BCC with her late husband Ivan Ssemwanga.
