Nigerian Afrobeats star Asake has spoken out after a young fan died following a tragic crowd crush at his concert in Kenya.

 

The incident happened on Saturday at Nyayo National Stadium in Nairobi, where fans were trying to enter the venue. The victim, 20-year-old Karen Lojore, was reportedly caught in long queues near one of the gates. Heavy rain and delays made the situation worse, and several other concertgoers were injured.

 

Posting on Instagram on Monday, Asake said he was “devastated” by what happened. He offered his condolences to the family and loved ones of Karen Lojore and said his heart was broken that a night meant for music and joy ended in loss.

 

Kenyan police spokesman Michael Muchiri described the incident as “very unfortunate”. He said police acted quickly to control the crowd and prevent more deaths, but admitted that crowd control at the venue “was not very ok”. Investigations are now under way and are expected to take a few weeks.

 

Asake said he would support efforts to fully understand what went wrong. He added that music has always been his way of spreading love and happiness, making the tragedy even more painful. He also stressed that those responsible should be held accountable.

 

On social media, a woman believed to be Karen’s mother directly appealed for justice. In a post tagging both Asake and the concert organisers, she asked what happened to her daughter and demanded answers.

 

The event organisers, Tukutane Entertainment, said they are working closely with authorities to establish the facts. A Kenyan journalist who attended the show later shared concerns online about poor crowd management, entrance problems, and how fans were allowed into the stadium.

 

Tukutane Entertainment has previously organised major concerts in Kenya featuring top African artists such as Tems, Rema, and Sauti Sol.

 

The tragedy has also brought back memories of a 2022 crowd crush at London’s Brixton Academy, where Asake headlined a show that left at least two people dead and others seriously injured.

 

Asake, whose real name is Ahmed Ololade, rose to fame in 2022 with his debut album Mr. Money With the Vibe. Since then, he has become one of Africa’s biggest music stars, earning major awards, global recognition, and two Grammy nominations.

 

As investigations continue, fans across Kenya and beyond are mourning a young life lost , and asking how such tragedies can be prevented in the future.