Asake’s former manager, Stevenator, opens up about quitting due to the pressures of fame and the toll it took on his family life, following the singer’s meteoric rise
[dropcap]A[/dropcap]sake’s former manager has broken his silence on why he stepped down from managing the fast-rising Afrobeats star, citing the overwhelming pace of success and personal struggles in balancing work and family life.
Also read: Asake explains preference for singing in Yoruba
Stephen Nana, popularly known as Stevenator, made the revelation in a candid interview with UpgradeTV, which has since gone viral on social media.
He shared that the journey began when Olamide, the head of YBNL Nation and a long-time friend, called him to take on the role of managing Asake—despite his having no prior experience in artist management.
“Olamide called me one day and told me that he had an artiste he would want me to manage. And that was the first time I’m going into management. I don’t know anything about the job,” Stevenator said.
The former manager admitted that he had never met Asake nor listened to his music before accepting the role, but the singer’s rapid rise left him no time to learn.
The demands of managing a global music star quickly consumed his time and energy, leaving him disconnected from his family.
“Asake became way too big that I have to be following him everywhere he goes. So, I’m now a family man, and I love my wife,” he said
“Asake blew up so quickly that there was no time to learn the job, so it was back to back,” he explained. “The challenge was my family. At a time I had two sons and I did not have time to spend with them.”
Stevenator recounted how constant touring affected his relationship with his children: “Sometimes we are on the road for four to five months.
I’m always on my phone with my kids. So I asked them to come to London and my second son refused me to carry him because he doesn’t know me.”
Faced with the emotional strain, he decided to step away from the role, choosing to prioritise his family over the demands of stardom.
Also read: Portable mocks Olamide over alleged fallout with Asake
The revelation sheds light on the often unseen personal toll behind the glamour of the music industry, particularly in the fast-moving world of Afrobeats.
Oreoluwa is an accountant and a brand writer with a flair for journalism.
