Nigerian Afrobeats star Asake is mourning a Kenyan fan, 20-year-old Karen Lojore, who tragically died following a crush at his concert in Nairobi over the weekend.

The incident occurred on Saturday as fans queued near a gate at the Nyayo National Stadium. Reports indicate that heavy rainfall and delays in entry contributed to the dangerous congestion, resulting in injuries to other concertgoers.

Ms. Lojore’s family and friends are demanding a thorough investigation and justice for her death. Kenyans on social media have also expressed widespread grief and sympathy.

In a statement released on Instagram on Monday, Asake expressed his devastation. “My heart goes out to the family, friends and loved ones of Karen Lojore,” he wrote, adding that he would support efforts to understand the circumstances surrounding the tragedy. He emphasized that music is meant to bring joy, and it breaks his heart that anyone would lose their life at his show.

Kenyan police spokesman Michael Muchiri described the crush as “a very unfortunate incident.” Speaking to the BBC, he stated that the situation was serious but that police managed to contain the crowds and prevent further fatalities. “It looked like crowd control at the venue was not very ok,” he added, “but investigations will reveal what actually went wrong and help to avoid such tragedy in future.”

According to Mr. Muchiri, investigations are expected to be completed within a matter of weeks.

A post on social media believed to be from Ms. Lojore’s mother, tagging both Asake and the concert organizers, Tukutane Entertainment, pleaded for answers: “What happened to my child? Why her? I want justice for my child.”

Tukutane Entertainment has stated they are cooperating with authorities to determine the cause of the incident. Immanuel Ndungu, a journalist with Citizen TV who attended the concert, shared concerns on Instagram regarding issues with stadium entrance procedures and crowd management.

This tragedy echoes a similar incident at Asake’s concert at London’s Brixton Academy in 2022, where at least two people died and others were injured. Asake, born Ahmed Ololade, rose to prominence in 2022 with his debut album, Mr. Money With the Vibe, and has since garnered international recognition, including a BBC Radio 1 Sound of 2023 nomination and two Grammy nominations.

Image Source: MYJOYONLINE