Ethiopian police have arrested a sixth popular TikTok creator days after five other influencers were detained over allegations of wearing 'indecent attire' at a public event in the culturally conservative country.
Adonay Berhane, 25, is a lifestyle and motivational creator with close to four million followers, who was named 'TikToker of the Year' at the TikTok Creative Award 2025 - the same ceremony now at the centre of the controversy.
Police said on Wednesday evening that he was under investigation.
The detentions have ignited widespread debate across Ethiopian social media, with supporters arguing that the arrests violate freedom of expression and stifle creativity, while conservative voices have defended the police, insisting that public figures must respect cultural norms.
Among those arrested were Wongelawit Gebre Endrias, aka Evan, who posts lifestyle and fashion videos to TikTok, and Yohannes Mekonnen, known as Jahnny, a dancer and content reviewer who won an award for video production at the ceremony.
The police stated that the detainees were suspected of promoting behavior that undermines public morality, amidst concerns about the influence of online trends on Ethiopian youth.
With over eight million social media users in the country, this incident underscores the growing tension between Ethiopia's rapidly expanding digital culture and longstanding traditional expectations.
Adonay Berhane, 25, is a lifestyle and motivational creator with close to four million followers, who was named 'TikToker of the Year' at the TikTok Creative Award 2025 - the same ceremony now at the centre of the controversy.
Police said on Wednesday evening that he was under investigation.
The detentions have ignited widespread debate across Ethiopian social media, with supporters arguing that the arrests violate freedom of expression and stifle creativity, while conservative voices have defended the police, insisting that public figures must respect cultural norms.
Among those arrested were Wongelawit Gebre Endrias, aka Evan, who posts lifestyle and fashion videos to TikTok, and Yohannes Mekonnen, known as Jahnny, a dancer and content reviewer who won an award for video production at the ceremony.
The police stated that the detainees were suspected of promoting behavior that undermines public morality, amidst concerns about the influence of online trends on Ethiopian youth.
With over eight million social media users in the country, this incident underscores the growing tension between Ethiopia's rapidly expanding digital culture and longstanding traditional expectations.
