Keypoints:
- Six TikTok creators detained after awards
- Police cite concerns over ‘public morality’
- Arrests ignite debate on expression and culture
ETHIOPIA has arrested six TikTok creators following accusations of wearing ‘indecent’ clothing at a major awards ceremony, in a move that has intensified debate over cultural norms and freedoms in one of Africa’s fastest-growing digital markets. The detentions, first reported by BBC Tigrinya, come amid rising tension between the country’s youthful online creators and officials concerned about shifting social standards.
The latest to be detained is Adonay Berhane, a 25-year-old lifestyle and motivational creator with nearly four million followers. He was named ‘TikToker of the Year’ at the Ethiopia Creative Award 2025 — the same ceremony now under scrutiny — before police announced on Wednesday evening that he was under investigation for behaviour allegedly undermining public morality.
The arrests, which have dominated Ethiopian social media, have divided opinion. Supporters argue that authorities are suppressing creativity and policing personal expression, while conservative voices insist that prominent influencers must respect long-standing cultural expectations.
Outfits at awards night trigger arrests
The police action follows public debate over outfits worn at the event. Among the detainees is lifestyle and fashion creator Wongelawit Gebre Endrias, known online as Evan, who attended braless beneath an oversized blazer — a choice that drew both support and criticism online.
Another detained influencer, dancer and content reviewer Yohannes Mekonnen, widely known as Jahnny, won an award for video production on the same night. His outfit, which included a man-bag, has become part of the broader conversation about modern style and conservative values in Ethiopia. Adonay himself wore an open-necked shirt, while the remaining detainees — Bereket Tsegaye, Mekdim Dereje and Girum Gezahegn — have also remained silent since being taken into custody.
Families express shock as concerns deepen
No statements have been issued by the six creators, but family members are speaking out. Adonay’s mother, Abeba Gebru, told BBC Tigrinya she was shocked by the arrest, describing her son as her ‘backbone’ and an ‘example to Ethiopian youth’. She highlighted his commitment to encouraging Ethiopians to build their futures at home. Adonay, who spent part of his teenage years in Canada, often warns followers against migrating abroad, pointing to the hardships faced by many in the diaspora.
Her comments have added emotional weight to a debate increasingly defined by broader questions about identity, youth culture and the limits of digital influence.
Police warn against ‘shallow culture’
Though Ethiopia’s federal government has not commented, police say the creators are suspected of promoting behaviour contrary to public morality. They have expressed concern about what they describe as the spread of ‘shallow culture’ through social media, warning that further action may be taken against those ‘violating the country’s cultural values’.
With more than eight million social media users nationwide, the incident highlights a broader national tension: a rapidly expanding digital generation testing the boundaries of long-standing cultural standards.
For many Ethiopians, the controversy is about far more than individual outfits — it is a reflection of a society negotiating its identity in the digital age.
