Nairobi, Kenya – Nigerian Afrobeats sensation Asake has expressed heartbreak following the death of a fan in a crowd crush at his concert in Nyayo National Stadium.

The victim, 20-year-old Karen Lojore, reportedly died on Saturday after being crushed near a stadium gate amid long queues and delays worsened by heavy rain. Several other attendees sustained injuries.

Asake, whose real name is Ahmed Ololade, took to Instagram to mourn the loss, calling the incident “devastating” and pledging support to help authorities understand what happened.

“My heart goes out to the family, friends, and loved ones of Karen Lojore. Those responsible should be held accountable,” he wrote.

Calls for Justice

Ms Lojore’s family and friends have called for a full investigation into the tragedy. In a social media post tagging the concert organizers and Asake, her mother wrote:

“What happened to my child? Why her? I want justice for my child.”

Kenyan police spokesperson Michael Muchiri confirmed that investigations are ongoing, emphasizing that authorities aim to determine how the incident occurred and prevent similar tragedies in the future.

The concert organizers, Tukutane Entertainment, said they are cooperating with police to understand the incident. Tukutane has previously hosted concerts for Tems, Rema, and Sauti Sol.

Stadium Safety Concerns

Eyewitnesses and journalists, including Immanuel Ndungu of Citizen TV, reported problems with crowd control, gate management, and entry procedures. Similar issues were raised after Asake’s 2022 show at London’s Brixton Academy, where two people died.

About Asake

Asake, one of Nigeria’s leading Afrobeats artists, rose to fame in 2022 with his debut album Mr. Money With the Vibe. He has earned numerous accolades, including two Grammy nominations and a spot on the BBC Radio 1 Sound of 2023 list, and is widely celebrated for his energetic performances and Afrobeat hits.

“Music has always been my way of sharing love and joy. It breaks my heart that anyone had to experience such loss,” Asake said in his statement.