Nigerian Afrobeats sensation Asake has issued a heartfelt response following a deadly crowd crush at his Nairobi concert that resulted in the death of 20-year-old fan Karen Lojore. The tragic incident occurred Saturday evening at Nyayo National Stadium where excessive queues and entry delays, exacerbated by heavy rainfall, led to dangerous overcrowding near stadium gates.
In an emotional Instagram statement released Monday, Asake expressed being ‘devastated by the tragic incident’ and extended condolences to Lojore’s family and friends. The artist, whose real name is Ahmed Ololade, emphasized that music should represent ‘love and joy’ and stated it ‘breaks my heart that anyone had to experience such loss.’ He explicitly called for accountability, asserting that ‘those responsible should be held accountable’ while pledging support for investigation efforts.
The victim’s family has launched impassioned appeals for justice, with a woman believed to be Lojore’s mother directly addressing concert organizers and Asake via social media: ‘What happened to my child? Why her? I want justice for my child.’
Kenyan police spokesperson Michael Muchiri confirmed to BBC that comprehensive investigations are underway to determine precisely how and why the incident occurred. Event organizers Tukutane Entertainment, known for hosting major African music events featuring stars like Tems and Rema, stated they are cooperating fully with authorities.
Eyewitness accounts from attending journalists describe significant problems with crowd management and stadium entry procedures. This tragedy echoes a similar 2022 incident at London’s Brixton Academy where an Asake performance resulted in two fatalities and multiple injuries.
Asake, celebrated as one of Nigeria’s most prominent musical exports since his breakthrough in 2022, has received multiple accolades including Grammy nominations and BBC Radio 1 recognition.