Brixton Academy crush: Asake has not done enough say families

On the 15th of December 2022, a tragic incident occurred at Brixton Academy during a concert by Afrobeats artist Asake, resulting in the loss of two lives and leaving a third person critically ill. Social media footage revealed long queues, with many presumed to be without tickets, attempting to enter the sold-out event.

One year later, the families of the victims express frustration, asserting that they still lack answers and have received no communication from Asake. Both the police and the affected families are appealing to the public for additional evidence to piece together the events leading to the tragedy.

Concerns arose in the aftermath regarding the strength of the venue’s doors and staffing levels, particularly the adequacy of medical coverage. Gaby Hutchinson, a 23-year-old security contractor on duty that night, tragically lost her life.

Gaby’s sisters, Nina and Kelsey Hutchinson, criticize Asake for what they perceive as insufficient support. They urge him to use his influence to encourage fans to contribute to the investigation. The families of the victims, including Rebecca Ikumelo’s parents, Yetunde Olodo and Anthony Ikumelo, express disappointment that Asake has not reached out to them since the incident.

The Brixton Academy faced scrutiny, leading to the suspension of its license shortly after the tragedy. Despite calls for permanent closure, the venue was allowed to reopen under 77 new conditions, including stronger doors, enhanced crowd management systems, detailed risk assessments, a new ticketing system, a centralized control and command center, and updated security and management protocols.

Rebecca’s father questions the timing of the venue’s reopening, suggesting that it should await the conclusion of the police investigation. The families express a lack of involvement in the decision and call for respect and commemoration of the lives lost. They emphasize that the incident has irreversibly altered their lives.

A spokesperson for the venue’s owner, Academy Music Group (AMG), states that a reopening timeline will be announced. Detective Chief Inspector Nigel Kenny from the Met Police emphasizes the ongoing investigation and encourages witnesses to come forward.

In response, the AMG expresses condolences and reiterates their commitment to preventing a recurrence of such a tragedy. Lambeth Council asserts its readiness to meet with the bereaved families but clarifies that its decision to reopen the venue was focused on safety measures rather than assigning blame.