Nairobi came alive on December 20, 2025, as Nigerian Afrobeats heavyweight Asake brought his much-anticipated M$ney African Tour to Nyayo Stadium.

On paper, it was everything Kenyan fans had waited for — a global star, a massive venue, and a crowd ready to celebrate Afrobeats at its peak.

In reality, the night unfolded as a mix of electric musical highs and sobering organisational lows.

From the moment Asake touched down in Kenya earlier in the week, the tone had been set.

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Videos of his arrival circulated widely online, showing him being welcomed with flowers, entourages and unmistakable star treatment.

Kenyan TV stations, radio hosts and influencers openly declared their fandom, amplifying the excitement around what was expected to be one of the biggest concerts of the year.

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Asake arrival//Instagram

Nyayo Stadium Buzzes with Anticipation

Nyayo Stadium, with a capacity of roughly 22,000, was visibly transformed. Fans shared clips of the elaborate stage setup, proudly announcing that Nairobi was ready to host a global icon.

Online, the mood was euphoric. Posts described a city “breathing different” ahead of the show, with many insisting that Asake’s presence alone was proof of Kenya’s growing relevance on the global music map.

As the evening drew closer, live videos from inside the stadium captured waves of fans singing, dancing and counting down to the moment Asake would finally appear.

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Asake Delivers on the Music

When Asake eventually took the stage, the crowd got exactly what they came for — at least musically. He powered through chart-topping hits from M$ney while teasing new material from Back To Soil.

Fans sang along word for word, with many later describing the performance as one of the strongest Afrobeats sets Nairobi has seen in recent years.

Some concertgoers even compared the show favourably to other major international concerts, noting Asake’s energy, stage presence and ability to connect with the audience.

Some of those comments are below:

"Mad Mad Performance Asake he didn't Stutter I enjoyed yoooo" – @glaadddyysss

"Asake had a really good show in Kenya tonight. You could tell the crowd felt every moment. " – @SnehQueenBee

"Great performance from Asake maybe the best drummer ive heard at a concert, also petition to have more events at Nyayo, easily the best venue we have" – @Saxian007

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Long Delays Test Fans’ Patience

Behind the viral clips and glowing praise, frustration had been quietly building. Gates reportedly closed as early as 9 pm, yet Asake did not perform until around 1 am.

For hours, fans stood in the cold and rain with little communication from organisers on what was happening.

The heavy downpour only worsened an already tense situation, turning excitement into exhaustion for many who had arrived early hoping for a smooth experience.

Some of those comments are below:

"Asake’s performance at Nyayo as a set was amazing but short... Even though the entire planning by Tukutane was ass. A lot of logistics criticalities were disregarded and because of that, a number of people got hurt and lost their phones." –@leahmamu

"Asake's performance was a solid 10 but the overall event experience was a 0 ... Wezi kila mahali plus You coul barely locate the washrooms " – @musembs_

"Kenyans attending Asake’s concert last night at Nyayo Stadium complained about long waiting hours before entering the venue. Some said they arrived at 6 PM but were only allowed in by 10 PM, despite the heavy rains in Nairobi." – @KenyanSays


Safety Concerns and Crowd Control Issues

As the night wore on, concerns about safety began to dominate online conversations. Social media users reported overcrowding, chaotic movement within the venue and scenes described as “stampede-like.”

Some attendees claimed people were injured as crowds surged forward, while others questioned whether Nyayo Stadium was the right venue choice given the scale of the event and the weather conditions.

Organisers Face Backlash

Event organisers Tukutane Entertainment faced mounting criticism after the show. Fans revisited complaints about a pre-party earlier in the week where attendees paid up to KSh 10,000 only for DJs to perform, with Asake failing to appear.

Asake//Instagram

The last-minute withdrawal of Kenyan group Kodong Klan also disappointed fans who had hoped to see stronger local representation on such a big stage.

The Verdict: A Night of Highs and Hard Lessons

Asake delivered. His performance, energy and connection with the crowd reaffirmed why he is one of Africa’s most bankable music exports. 

The organisation, however, fell short. Poor crowd control, long delays and unclear logistics overshadowed what could have been a landmark moment for Kenya’s live music scene.