Afrobeats singer Asake has said he is ‘praying’ for four fans who are fighting for their lives after his sold-out concert at the Brixton O2 Academy descended into chaos last night.
Four people were left in a critical condition after suffering ‘crushing injuries’ following what appeared to be a stampede to enter the gig, which was abandoned half-way through. Top Stories by Daily Mail 02:00
Fans were filmed clashing with police outside the venue after reports that people had tried to enter without tickets.
This morning the Nigerian singer and songwriter, 27, said his ‘heart is with those who were injured last night’.
Asake wrote on Instagram: ‘My heart is with those who were injured last night and caused any form of discomfort. I pray you get well soonest.
‘I am also in the process of reaching out to individuals.’
Footage showed one person being forced down stairs and and another placed in a headlock after striking an officer in the face.
In another video shared online, dozens of people could be seen trying to make their way into the narrow entry doors as one reveller is heard saying: ‘This is so dangerous.’
Police said they were called to the Brixton O2 Academy on Stockwell Road at 9.35pm and found a number of people with ‘injuries believed to have been caused by crushing’.
No arrests have been made and detectives have launched an urgent investigation, with cordons remaining in place at the O2 Academy this morning.
Revellers attempt to force entry into Brixton’s O2 Academy
Asake added that he had still not received a full brief from the venue management as to what led to the disruption at the entrance of the Brixton O2 Academy.
He added: ‘We are thankful that all was peaceful at the end.
‘For my people who enjoyed the beginning of my performance, I am sorry that it was cut short.
‘Thank you for your unbelievable love London. I love you too much! I’m looking forward to seeing you again in a bit!’
Meanwhile, a video shared on TikTok captured the moment Asake told his fans that ‘3,000 people have broken the door outside’.
The Afrobeat pop-star whose stage name pays homage to his mother: Who is Asake?
Ahmed Ololade, stage name Asake, 27, is a Nigerian Afrobeats singer-songwriter from Lagos state.
Asake’s stage name pays homage to his mother, whose first name is Asake.
The musician studied Theatre & Performing Arts at Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun state.
His break-out hit Lady in 2020 saw him labelled a pop sensation, and in September this year he released his debut 30-minute long album ‘Mr Money with the Vibe’.
Signed to YBNL Nation and Empire Distribution, he has collaborated with Grammy-award winning Burna Boy on his track Sungba.
Asake was nominated for BBC Radio 1’s Sound of 2023 award.
Last night’s gig was the final of three sell-out shows at the Brixton O2 Academy.
In the footage, he said: ‘Because of security police have asked us to close the show. We apologise to you, this is nothing to do with us or the promoter. This is basically… listen to what I am saying.’
He then passes the mic over and fans are told to ‘leave the same way you came in’ and promised that they will be given a refund on their purchased ticket.
In another video, the crowd inside the venue can be heard booing when an announcement was made from the stage saying the show was being closed.
The gig, which saw Asake touring his debut album Mr. Money With The Vibe, was pulled part-way through.
It was the final of three sell-out shows the Nigerian singer, who had the break-out hit Lady in 2020, had performed at the Brixton music venue, which has a standing capacity of 5,000 people.
On Sunday, the musician tweeted fans to ask them not to come to the O2 Academy if they did not have a ticket, adding it was sold out and no tickets were being sold on the door.
One resident who lives next to the O2 Academy said that police arrived after the gig was cancelled.
John, 32, who declined to give his surname, said: ‘I saw everyone at the front door of Brixton Academy, (then) everything just stopped,’ he said.
‘It looked like the gig had been cancelled, and then some commotion, some pushing and shoving, and the police came shortly after. That’s when it kicked off.
He added: ‘You could tell there was tension.’
The local said people trying to get into the O2 had broken the glass of the front doors.
‘People at the front of the Brixton Academy were really pushing and shoving and trying to break through the door and force their way in,’ he said.
‘The glass of the doors was broken.’
Chaos at Brixton Academy as large crowd tried to force their way in