Nigerian Afrobeats star Asake has expressed grief over the death of a Kenyan fan during his concert at Nairobi’s Nyayo National Stadium.
The victim, 20-year-old Karen Lojore, reportedly died in a crowd crush near a stadium gate on Saturday. Heavy rain and long queues worsened the situation, leaving several other fans injured.
Family and friends of Lojore have demanded a full investigation, while Kenyans on social media have shared condolences. Kenyan police spokesman Michael Muchiri described the incident as “very unfortunate” and said authorities acted to contain the crowd and prevent further casualties. He added that investigations would determine what went wrong and help prevent future tragedies, with the process expected to take a few weeks.
In a statement on Instagram on Monday, Asake said he was “devastated by the tragic incident” and extended his condolences to Lojore’s family, friends, and loved ones. He pledged to support efforts to “understand what happened” and stressed that “those responsible should be held accountable.”
The concert organisers, Tukutane Entertainment, said they were cooperating with authorities to clarify the circumstances of the incident. A journalist who attended the event highlighted problems with stadium entry and crowd management, suggesting missteps contributed to the tragedy.
This is not the first time a crowd-related incident has occurred at an Asake concert. In 2022, a show at London’s Brixton Academy resulted in two deaths and multiple injuries.
Asake, whose real name is Ahmed Ololade, is one of Nigeria’s leading Afrobeats stars, breaking through with his 2022 debut album Mr. Money With the Vibe. He has earned multiple accolades, including two Grammy nominations, and was recognized as one of the BBC Radio 1 Sound of 2023 nominees.
The Nairobi tragedy has prompted renewed calls for improved safety measures at large music events to prevent similar incidents.
