Asake Mourns Kenyan Fan Who Died in Nairobi Concert Crowd Crush

Nigerian Afrobeats star Asake mourned the death of 20-year-old Kenyan fan Karen Lojore, who died in a crowd crush at his Nairobi concert. Families have called for a full investigation, while authorities and concert organisers are working to determine the cause and prevent similar incidents in the future.

Nigerian Afrobeats star Asake has expressed deep sorrow over the death of a Kenyan fan who died during a crowd crush at his concert held at Nairobi’s Nyayo National Stadium. The victim, 20-year-old Karen Lojore, was reportedly waiting in long queues near a stadium gate on Saturday when the incident occurred. Heavy rain further delayed entry, contributing to the crowd surge, and several other fans were reportedly injured during the chaos.
Family and friends of Karen Lojore have demanded a full investigation into the incident, while Kenyans on social media have shared their sympathies and called for accountability. In a statement posted on Instagram on Monday, Asake said he was devastated by the tragic event and expressed his heartfelt condolences to the family, friends, and loved ones of the victim. He also pledged to support efforts to understand what happened and emphasized that those responsible should be held accountable. Asake described music as his way of sharing love and joy and said it breaks his heart that anyone attending his concert had to experience such a loss.
Kenyan police spokesman Michael Muchiri described the crowd crush as a very unfortunate incident. He stated that the situation had been serious, but police worked to contain the crowds and prevent further deaths. Muchiri noted that crowd control at the venue appeared to have been inadequate, but he assured that a full investigation would reveal the causes of the incident and help prevent similar tragedies in the future. The investigation is expected to be completed within a matter of weeks.
The concert organisers, Tukutane Entertainment, said they are cooperating fully with the authorities to understand what went wrong. Eyewitness accounts from the event highlighted problems with the stadium entrance, crowd control, and the way people were allowed into the venue. Tukutane Entertainment has organised several high-profile concerts in recent years, including performances by African music stars such as Tems, Rema, and Sauti Sol.
The Nairobi incident has drawn comparisons to a similar tragedy that occurred at Asake’s 2022 performance at London’s Brixton Academy, where at least two people died and several others were seriously injured in a crowd surge.
Asake, whose real name is Ahmed Ololade, is one of Nigeria’s leading Afrobeat stars. He gained prominence in 2022 with the release of his debut album, Mr. Money With the Vibe, and has since earned widespread recognition as a major figure in the Afrobeat scene. He has received multiple accolades, including two Grammy nominations, and was nominated for the BBC Radio 1 Sound of 2023 Award, being hailed as one of Nigeria’s hottest breakout artists.