Ethiopia Arrests Six Social Media Stars Over “Indecent Attire” at Creative Awards Event

Ethiopian police have arrested six popular TikTok influencers after an awards ceremony in Addis Ababa, claiming the creators wore “indecent attire” at a public event in a country where cultural norms are traditionally conservative. According to police statements, the detainees are under investigation for allegedly promoting behaviour that undermines public morality.

The latest arrest is 25‑year‑old Adonay Berhane, a lifestyle and motivational creator with nearly four million followers, who had been named “TikToker of the Year” at the Ethiopia Creative Award 2025 — the same event now at the centre of controversy. Police confirmed on Wednesday that he is also under investigation.

Five other influencers were arrested earlier. Among them is Wongelawit Gebre Endrias, known as Evan, who attended the ceremony wearing an oversized blazer without a bra. Dancer and content reviewer Yohannes Mekonnen, known as Jahnny, was detained while sporting a man‑bag. Adonay was photographed at the event wearing an open‑necked shirt. Others arrested include Bereket Tsegaye, Mekdim Dereje and Girum Gezahegn.

None of the six have publicly commented since the arrests. But Adonay’s mother, Abeba Gebru, told BBC Tigrinya she was shocked, describing her son as her “backbone” and an example to Ethiopia’s youth. Having spent his teenage years in Canada before returning home, much of his content warns Ethiopians against leaving the country and highlights the difficulties faced by immigrants abroad.

The arrests have sharply divided public opinion. Supporters of the influencers argue that the detentions violate freedom of expression and suppress a growing creative industry. Conservative groups, meanwhile, defend the police, insisting that online personalities should respect the nation’s cultural expectations.

Police say the creators’ outfits represent a growing “shallow culture” influenced by global social media trends. Federal authorities warned that additional action will be taken against anyone thought to be violating cultural values. With more than eight million Ethiopians active online, the incident highlights the tensions between a rapidly digitalising youth population and traditional societal norms.

And as always, Africa’s story continues to evolve — shaped by its young people, challenged by old systems, and moving forward with a resilience the world keeps underestimating. TVOA’s insight remains: nations as young as ours grow through turbulence, but our youth remain the energy that pushes the continent upward.