Stevo Simple Boy, not so simple

Stevo Simple Boy is okay with being the butt of jokes, but it seems the joke is on those laughing at him as he continues to soar.

He embarked on his musical journey in 2005 in Kibera, honing his skills and talent through regular attendance at rehearsals organized by Kibera Creative Arts.

Stevo has graced various stages in Kibera and across the country. He shot to fame in 2017 with his hit song, 'Vijana tuwache mihadarati,' and ever since, he has been the talk of the town.

Opinions about him among netizens vary widely; while some express admiration, others resort to mockery.

Nevertheless, Stevo Simple Boy, whose real name is Stephen Otieno Adera, remains undeterred by the opinions. He seems to be on an upward trajectory despite it all.

The latest buzz on social media came when he collapsed live on television on March 16, 2024. He was a guest on Citizen’s 10 over 10 show, and moments after his performance, he seemed unwell and eventually fainted during the show.

Despite facing criticism and ridicule, his manager Chingi Boy defended him during an interview with a local media outlet.

"Stevo did not collapse due to hunger. Some haters have claimed it was hunger, but that's not true. He was just exhausted; that's all. It had nothing to do with his ex-relationship fallout. Stevo moved on from that a long time ago. People need to stop spreading false information," the manager stated.

This statement followed Stevo's account on Instagram, where he attributed his collapse to stress stemming from his manager's departure.

"Manager, please come back; I'm drained. People shouldn't worsen my stress; it's making me collapse on stage while performing," read his Instagram story.

Shortly after the incident, Director Trevor, a prominent digital content creator and video producer, offered to manage Stevo's career via an Instagram post.

"I'm ready to support him and take charge of managing his content creation career," he wrote. "Stevo will explain the recent events in detail on his YouTube channel. This marks the beginning of a new content creation journey, and I'm committed to helping him succeed. We're optimistic about this venture."

Besides his career, controversies surrounding Stevo's relationships with women, including Pritty Vishy and his ex-wife, have also captured public attention.

He previously addressed his breakup with his ex-wife, citing her infidelity and child from another man as reasons.

At 34, Stevo embodies the saying, 'When life gives you lemons, make lemonade.' Despite being a subject of ridicule, he has achieved significant success, with his hit song “Vijana tuwache mihadarati” garnering over 1.1 million views on YouTube.

In 2019, the National Authority for The Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse appointed him as an ambassador, further solidifying his impact.

His life story serves as an inspiration for many upcoming artists in Kenya.

Some of Stevo's other songs include: Wedding Day, Mapenzi ya Pesa, Glory, Ukimwi, Ufisadi, I Lift You Higher, Inauma, and Ndoa.