Nigerian Afrobeats star Asake has expressed deep sorrow following the death of a young fan who was killed in a crowd crush outside a concert venue in Nairobi, calling for accountability over the incident.
The victim, 20 year old Karen Lojore, died after being caught in heavy congestion near one of the entrances to Nyayo National Stadium on Saturday. Fans had reportedly been queuing for hours, with access delays worsened by heavy rain, leading to panic and multiple injuries.
In a statement posted on social media, Asake said he was “devastated by the tragic incident” and offered his condolences to Lojore’s family and friends. “My heart goes out to the family, friends and loved ones of Karen Lojore,” he said, adding that those responsible “should be held accountable”.
Kenyan police described the incident as “very unfortunate”, saying officers worked to contain the situation and prevent further loss of life. A police spokesperson said early indications suggested serious shortcomings in crowd control at the venue, although a full investigation is under way to determine exactly what went wrong. Authorities expect the inquiry to be completed within weeks.
Family members and friends of Lojore have demanded justice, with many Kenyans taking to social media to express sympathy and anger over what they see as preventable failures in event management. In a widely shared post, a woman believed to be Lojore’s mother questioned how her daughter lost her life and called for answers.
The concert organisers said they are cooperating with authorities to establish the circumstances surrounding the crush. Journalists and attendees who were present at the event have spoken publicly about problems with stadium access points, overcrowding, and a lack of effective crowd management.
The organisers have previously staged large scale concerts in Kenya featuring major African artists, but the incident has renewed scrutiny of safety standards at high profile music events.
The tragedy has also drawn comparisons to a 2022 concert headlined by Asake in London, where a crowd surge at a venue resulted in multiple deaths and serious injuries.
Asake, whose real name is Ahmed Ololade, rose rapidly to prominence in 2022 with his debut album Mr Money With the Vibe. He has since become one of Nigeria’s most successful contemporary artists, earning international recognition, major awards, and multiple Grammy nominations.