Ethiopian police have detained a sixth popular TikTok personality, deepening a growing online debate over the arrest of young influencers accused of wearing “indecent” clothing at a public event in the culturally conservative nation.

Adonay Berhane, a 25-year-old lifestyle and motivational content creator with nearly four million followers, was taken into custody days after five other influencers were arrested. Berhane was named “TikToker of the Year” at the Ethiopia Creative Award 2025, the very ceremony now at the centre of the controversy. The event took place in Addis Ababa.

Authorities confirmed on Wednesday evening that Berhane was under investigation, though they did not provide further details on the nature of the allegations.

The arrests have sparked a wave of discussion across Ethiopian social media platforms, with users divided over questions of cultural norms, personal freedoms and the role of law enforcement in regulating public behaviour.

–ChannelAfrica–